How to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday called on government at all levels to mobilize private sector investment to accelerate sustainable economic progress.

He made this call at the inauguration of the International Conference Center (ICC) built by the Bauchi State government.

The center is named after the first Prime Minister of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Obasanjo emphasized that local and international investment must be mobilized to accelerate national economic growth.

He said: “With what we have; we can show the world that we are an inseparable part of the world. What other people have and are proud of, is nothing more than what we have.

“Some people don’t even have half of what we have. We have a world tourism center that can be developed and made into one of the tourist attractions in Nigeria.

READ ALSO:Boko Haram is now part of our national life, laments Obasanjo

“People who will come here will be able to stay in hotels, interact, have discussions and conferences at the ICC, and make Bauchi the center of Nigerian attractions and tourism.

“We not only commissioned this, we also started with a conference to talk about investment, and what do we need in Nigeria right now? We need to mobilize investment from local and international.”

The former President also promised to showcase Bauchi to the world to attract investment to the state.

In his remarks, Governor Bala Mohammed said the ICC was initiated to attract local and international businesses to invest in the state.

The event was attended by, among others, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, deputy governors of Oyo and Plateau, Bayo Lawal and Josephine Piyo.