2nd Warri Economic Summit: Why Rewane was absent-Pinnick

President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, says CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, Lagos and foremost economist, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, who was one of the keynote speakers at the 2^nd Warri Economic Summit held in Warri, Wednesday October 2, did not attend, because the event coincided with Mr. Bismarck Rewane’s inauguration as member of the eight-man National Economic Advisory Council.

From right: Hon. Matthew Poko Opuoru, Chief David Edevbie, Dr. Michael Tidi, Chief Joseph Otumara, Dr. Augustine Uroye & Mr. Amaju Pinnick

Mr. Pinnick who was among speakers at the summit, described himself as “Warricentric”, hence 90% of his businesses are situated in Warri.

While stating that he will never disappoint people of Warri, the football enthusiast noted that the challenges he was facing were mere political.

He stressed the need for people of Warri to shun divisive tendencies and embrace love, so as to, “bring back those vibes and make Warri work again”.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area and Co-Host of Warri Economic Summit, Dr. Michael Tidi, in his speech, explained, “the purpose of this summit is for us to discuss around a table and find common answers to the question of where we want Warri to be, 10 years from today”.

Dr. Michael Tidi reading his address

Dr. Tidi averred that the 2^nd Warri Economic Summit envision a Warri with improved infrastructure for business and living, devoid of unruly youths in the name of ‘deve’, as well as business-friendly environment, where business support governance and in return, government creates a supportive environment.

According to the Warri South Local Government Chairman, “youth unruliness will be better dealt with when we can point to new employment opportunities and revenue for the Council will improve when more citizens are working and therefore within the rate-able population”.

He disclosed that Warri South Council, “is midwifing a process that will lead to the birth of a 1,000 hectare Oil Palm Plantation on one of our rural communities within the next 18 months”, stressing, “it is not a council project in-line with our vision of government being an enabler of business and not a manager of business”.

Dr. Tidi who assured that Warri South Local Government Council will do all it can to enable the private sector operators and communities work harmoniously to birth the project, revealed that the first two stages of the Agric Project have been undertaken and in the next few weeks, a process of recruiting young school leavers for the project will commence.

Chairman of Warri Economic Summit Group, WESG, Barr. Emmanuel Jakpa, in his opening address, stated, “In the 16^th Century, Warri opened diplomatic relations with one of the two European Superpowers at the time, Portugal. A citizen of Warri, Prince Oyeomasan became the very first West African graduate of a European University of Coimbra”.

Barr. Jakpa explained, “last year, the 1^st Warri Economic Summit focused on the Warri Port and as a result, our communities gave Federal Government the utmost cooperation. Everyone now know that government, from the Local to Federal level, is serious about getting the Warri Port going again”.

He emphasized that the Warri Economic Summit Group exists to foster and increase the social capital of trust, adding that the group will design and calibrate the management mechanism that allows investors to participate in the decision making process and gain trust.

According to him, a tech hub that will provide a co-working space for all kinds of technology entrepreneurs at low or no cost for one year, would be set up.

The WESG Chairman noted that the entrepreneur will have to pay at a calibrate rate for another six months, “after which, he should pay at full cost for the remaining one and half year”.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented at the occasion by his Chief of Staff, Chief David Edevbie, promised to support the Warri South Local Government Council and Warri Economic Summit Group in the task of boosting Agricultural development and job creation for youths.

Some participants at the summit

Fresh Angle International can report that the well-attended summit which featured panel discussion, presented veritable platform for speakers such as Chief Francis Okumagba, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, Engr. Gabriel Aggrey and Dr. Musibau Babatunde, to x-ray business and professional strategies, aimed at socio-economic development of Warri and environs.

Engr. Gabriel Aggrey, one of the keynote speakers

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