- * Explains Agenda For Economy And Entrepreneurship Stimulation, Job Creation
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Presidential hopeful, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has promised Nigerians that if elected President in 2023, he would move to douse the prevailing ethnic agitation and current national tension, and immediately install measures towards achieving a speedy unity of the entire country.
Anyim also said he would consider the structure of the country only if the popular consensus among Nigerians demands it.
He added that part of his early priority engagements towards revamping the nation's economy and launching it on the path of accelerated growth, development, and economic prosperity, is to focus on new age keys development enablers such as industrialization and manufacturing, talents and innovation, science and technology.
Senator Anyim spoke on Monday, January 17, 2022, when he featured on ARISE NEWS TV's breakfast package, 'The Morning Show".
Delivering his fix Nigeria strategies with commendable erudition and impressive articulation which instantly endeared him to the viewing electorates, Pius Anyim showcased that he is well prepared for the Presidential job when he said: “For me, the drivers of the economy will now be on industrialization and manufacturing, talents and innovation, science and technology".
The former Senate President explained that these certainly are going to be the "key drivers of the economy of the second half of the 21st century and I will develop this, build on it and prepare Nigeria to fit into the fourth industrial revolution. That obviously will expand the economy. That will make the economy more competitive and more dynamic".
However, to stimulate development and unleash national prosperity, perhaps within the early semesters of his initial four-year tenure, Senator Anyim promised that he would bring about the factors, the circumstances, and the situations that will promote his prosperity and development mantra through his development enablers.
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To further illustrate his point, he told his interviewers that: “I understand that last year, the nation earned about N5.5trn as revenue and out the N5.5trn, N4.2trn went into debt servicing and debt repayment, leaving just N1.3trn to run the country. I also want to believe as a matter of rule that you are not allowed to borrow more than 40 percent of your GDP and our borrowing rate now is at 36.9 percent.
“I think that will make it more frightening for anybody coming in. But I can tell you that even at that, that does not scare me. The challenges are temporary and the challenges are that of leadership. If I am to focus on the economy as I did say before, I will focus the economy on the contemporary world direction – manufacturing, talent and innovation, science and technology.”
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) expressed confidence that his economic revival approach will work, and would most likely unleash creative talents and energies that will drive the nation's economy and boost job opportunities.
“If you elevate talent and innovation, then all you need to do is simply create the infrastructure for innovation and support new startup business, then just concentrate on what will create jobs on its own. Support the younger ones in setting up their own businesses in such a manner that they don’t need to wait for government employment. And once they create their own businesses, they will be in the position to employ others".
Anyim stated that the benefits of private sector employment "is that it is, more efficient, it is more rewarding in terms of payment of salaries and it is more productive. So, I will focus on those things that will create an economic environment that will encourage talented Nigerians to deploy their talents and eventually focus on innovation that will fit into the fourth industrial revolution that is already here with us".
However, assuring that his economic management model, if he comes to power as President, will achieve positive results and discourage external borrowing, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said: “I want to believe that will help get us out of the issue of borrowing to pay salaries and borrowing to pay the recurrent expenditure. I want to believe that my economic direction will actually shift from where we are today, to a new direction of the world economy.” NNL.
