Wife of President urges private sector to partner with FG for economic prosperity

The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, on Sunday in Lagos, urged the private sector to partner with the Federal Government to build a strong and viable economy.

She made the call at the investiture programme of Mrs Nike Akande as President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Represented by Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, the president’s wife said the Federal Government was taking steps that would make the country more investment-friendly both for foreign and local investors.

She said ``Nigeria had made history again as you have become the second woman to hold this exalted position since its inception.

``It shows that the contributions of women are being recognised.’’

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said the current economic challenges in the country required Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to tackle.

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that creating an enabling environment would facilitate such partnership.

According to him, investors are always concerned about the ease of doing business.

``Investors want to be sure that the market is growing, the country is stable and that there is stable energy supply.

``And as a government, we will strive to drive economic transformation of the country through formulation of positive policy framework in all key sectors of the economy to aid strategic planning.’’

In her acceptance speech, Akande said that the chamber would continue to promote an enabling environment for the private sector to operate in pursuance of the Nigerian vision.

Akande said that the private sector was vital to the transformation of the economy through wealth and employment creation, poverty alleviation and value addition to products.

She added that the chamber would continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies, the media and other stakeholders in achieving its set goals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akande is the second female president of LCCI in its 127 years of existence.

She was elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber held on Dec. 3 to steer the affairs of the chamber for the next two years.