‘Nigeria must build a culture of innovation to develop’

Lead Advisor, Imagine Nigeria, Olugbenga Adesida, says in order to develop, the country must build a culture of innovation.

Adesida said this on Monday in Abuja during a high-level technical media briefing, to present the report of the Imagine Nigeria exercise which is scheduled to be launched on Wednesday, 10th August 2022.

Imagine Nigeria is an initiative of the Federal Government, implemented in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The report explores alternative futures for Nigeria to kickstart a conversation around national transformation.

It was led by a high-level panel and supported by a steering committee. The members of the High-Level Panel include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Gambari and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning of Nigeria, Clem Agba among others.

Adesida said: “Consultations involving over 300 people from all over the country and abroad were held at various levels to reflect on Nigeria’s future, imagine new possibilities and propose a portfolio of big ideas that could lead to a sustainable and prosperous nation for all.

“The Imagine Nigeria report is for all Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria; all should engage with it, and all should challenge themselves, their organizations as well as local, civic, business, political, religious and national leaders on how they can engage and contribute to building a culture of innovation, catalyzing the green economy, leading Africa, building trust and facilitating a national narrative.

“The Imagine Nigeria report, therefore, is not the end of the process but the beginning of a national conversation on the future. This exercise is not about predicting the future of Nigeria; rather it is about initiating a process of national reflection and facilitating the engagement of all Nigerians, especially those with the power to act, in building the future we desire.”

Chief Technical Adviser, UNDP, Simon Ridley, said the journey that birthed Imagine Nigeria began in September 2020 with the formation of a High-Level Panel.

“In the same month, an international advisory team plus a national secretariat were created to manage the day-to-day activities leading up to the report,” he added.

Coordinator, Imagine Nigeria Secretariat, Lanre Shasore, said the report was conceived as part of multi-stakeholder efforts to create a desirable future for Nigeria beyond its current realities.