The member representing South -East in the Board of North East Development Commission, NEDC, Rep. Sir Sam I. Onuigbo has challenged State Governors and Chairmen of Local Government councils to be transparent and effective in their management of the huge allocations they now receive, to achieve the target of President Bola Tinubu,which is to better the lots of Nigerians.
Rep. Onuigbo who was speaking shortly after receiving an award at the South East Zonal Summit of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chatered), and Visit of the NIM President and Chairman of Council, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (Rtd.) to Abia State, in Umuahia, stated that allocations accruing to all States and their local governments since the removal of oil subsidy have tripled, compared to what they previously got.
The two time member of the National Assembly made it clear that with the quantum of allocations, the people they are leading should enjoy better lives to reflect the magnanimity of the President.
“All we have to ask for is a lot of transparency on the side of those who are in leadership.
“The Governors are getting money , more than three times of what they got when I was the Commissioner for Finance. The local governments are also getting money after the removal of subsidy.
“They should be transparent and make sure that they support Mr President in trying to move the economy in the direction that Mr President is driving it,” Chief Onuigbo noted
He encouraged younger Nigerians to join the NIM and other professional bodies, to properly equipp and prepare themselves for the current technological advancement and against the threat of Artificial Intelligence, AI so as to remain relevant in society .
The NEDC Board member further expressed confidence that the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies of President Tinubu would soon bear the desired fruits and called for a sustained support for the President .
Hon. Onuigbo who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2023, thanked the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) South East and National for bestowing him with an award and promised more support for the foremost professional body.
He described NIM as a prestigious organization dating back to decades which has contributed greatly to the economic and human capital development of the Nigerian society and urged the current leadership to sustain the good work.
In his welcome address, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Commodore Abimbola Ayuba(Rtd), while describing the theme of the Summit “Navigating Nigeria’s Economic Environment to achieve sustainable Corporate and Household Economic Growth” as apt giving the
seeming threat of loss of jobs by human occasioned by the use of Artificial Intelligence.
Commodore Ayuba charged all especially those who wish to remain relevant in the evolving society to retool themselves with updated management skills to remain relevant even in the face of artificial intelligence.
He noted that the essence of the summit is to engage their members and the public on the impact of Artificial Intelligence, Python and Robotics and to expose them to its advantages, legal principles as well as limitations so as to adequately prepare them ahead of time on its proper deployment and not dwelling on the fear that it is going to take over human roles.
Contributing, the South East Zonal Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Management , Chartered , and former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Professor Jude Njoku, described the summit as an opportunity to look into the challenges facing the economic growth of Nigeria to advise the government on the right steps to take and assured that domesticating artificial intelligence will not take over the role human in every sector.
In his presentation, the keynote Speaker and Managing Director/CEO Cowrey Asset Management Limited, Limited Lagos, Mr Johnson Chukwu described Artificial Intelligence as data driven and harped on the need for a harmonized central data system in the country to aid in the intelligence gathering of the country as well as the development of critical areas of comparative advantage for rapid growth and development.
In a presentation titled”Artificial Intelligence in a Developing World: The present and future of the Nigeria Economy” the Rector, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, Dr. Christopher Okoro Kalu, opined that Artificial Intelligence can destroy Nigeria’s Economy if not properly handled and harped on the need for Nigerians to adapt to the changes which he said have become imperative as studies on Artificial Intelligence now form part of the mandatory Courses in Universities and Polytechnics in Nigeria today.
In his goodwill message, the Traditional Ruler, Ugwu Ibere Autonomous Communityin Ikwuano Local Government Area and the Royal Father of the Day, Eze Professor Samuel Ifewanta commended the NIM for standing strong all these years despite the various challenges that has come its way and made a case for the decentralization of the Administration of the Institute to bring it closer to the people at the grassroot and the strengthening of its news bulletin to help in educating and mobilizing more people to join the institute
The summit which was well attended by members of the institute from across the 5 eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, and beyond also attracted top government functionaries, the academia, captains of industries and featured award presentations to deserving personalities including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
