Kunle Adelabu
Government functionaries and resource persons at the first Ikorodu Division Economic Summit held at the Origin Zoo and Gardens, Ebute – Iga, Ikorodu West LCDA, Ikorodu.
The much – awaited second edition of the Ikorodu Division Economic Summit (IDES), is set to hold this year.
The summit is themed, ‘Strengthening Local Capacity for Sustainable National Development and Global Competiveness’.
The summit is scheduled for the last quarter of this year.
In a statement signed by Oke Godwin Olaoluwa, on behalf of the Ikorodu Division Economic Forum (IKODEF), organisers of the IDES, the summit will be staged in conjunction with the Advocacy for Community Economic Development (ACED), Ikorodu Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS) and the Local Government (LG) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ikorodu Division.
Expected at this year’s summit, which the organisers said would seek to develop an all-inclusive and comprehensive market-based approach to strengthen the local capacity towards improving the economic growth and development of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State and Nigeria at large, are Governor of Lagos State, traditional rulers, professionals, economic experts, public officials, political office holders, chieftains of Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, captains of industry, community associations and others within and outside Ikorodu Division.
“The second Ikorodu Division Economic Summit seeks to generate tailored multiple bottom‐line solutions to the economic problem of our immediate community, the state and the nation at large”, he said.
“The summit aims to leverage private capital with public resources and community‐based know‐how to meet basic needs and stimulate economic growth and development.
According To Oke, “the focus of the program will be to identify the asset base of Ikorodu Division; identify means of creating long-‐term employment opportunities for the teeming youths within the division; build on local resources and capacities and establish trade links that would benefit the business community within the division”, he said.
“Also, the summit would identify grassroots, bottom-top solutions to economic problems.
The summit, according to the organisers, will look into topical issues such as identifying the waterfront potentials and seeking means to harness them towards community economic development.
In addition, the means of bridging the infrastructural gaps through Public Private Partnership; career path and networking for the youths and government policies as it affects business growth will also be critically looked into at the summit.
Other issues being considered for discussion are: using Information Communication Technology to solve societal issues, youths unemployment and identifying Tourism Potentials of the division.
