*******SOUTH-SOUTH ECONOMIC SUMMIT (THE BRACED STATES) AND BOOK LAUNCH IN HONOUR OF PROF. S.E.N. OKOH ON 11TH JULY, 2024 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.
The 2024 South-South Economic Summit organized by members of the Nigerian Economic Society, (NES), South-South Region (the BRACED States – Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta States) of Nigeria; and hosted by the Department of Economics, University of Benin and the Nigerian Economic Society Edo State Chapter, was held at the University of Benin, on Thursday, 11th July 2024 with huge success.
It recorded huge turn-out of persons and dignities such as: the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly – Rt Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lilian I. Salami Represented by Prof. Noghayin. E. J. Orhue, Dean of Life Sciences; Vice-Chancellor-IAUE, Port Harcourt, Prof Okechuckwu Onuchukwu Represented by Dr. Allwell Nteegah; Dean of FSS, UNIBEN – Prof. Daniel A. Tonwe; Prof. Godly Otto, Univ. of Port Harcourt.
First Chairman of South-South Economic Summit; Prof. Mike Obadan- Fellow of NES and former Non-executive Director of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; Prof. T. O. K. Audu – Prof. Emeritus at Department of Chemical Engineering, UNIBEN; Prof. Hassan E. Oaikhenan, Dept. of Economics, UNIBEN; Ven. Prof. Mon Nwadiani, UNIBEN; Prof. Mrs. E. Okobia, UNIBEN; Prof. Mrs. N. I. Nwabah, UNIBEN; Executive Chairman of Uhunmwonde LGA – Hon. Kenneth Adodo; Director of Academic Planning-UNIBEN and the Book-Reviewer – Ven. Prof. I. O. Osamwonyi; Students of Gold Mark Academy, Benin-City; Several Online Participants across the globe; the Book-Honoree – Prof. S.E.N. Okoh and his Kins men – Ekwuoma Elite Team and many others.
The highlights of the Economic Summit with the theme, “Global Economic Realities of Our Time: Prospects and Challenges for the South-South Regions”; included (a) Presentation of groundbreaking research papers, (b) Panel Discussion on “The Way Forward for Nigeria amidst Price and Exchange Rate Instabilities” and (c) the launch of an insightful book titled “ECONOMIC THOUGHTS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA: ADAM SMITH CANNOT TEACH HERE” and (d) Election of new officers for Nigerian Economic Society, South-South Region (NES-SSR) and for Nigerian Economic Society, Edo State Chapter (NES-EDO).
For NES-SSR, the following were elected: Chairman – Prof. M. A. Anyiwe; Vice-Chairman – Prof. Francis Oluleye; Secretary – Dr. Allwell Nteejah; Asst. Secretary -Dr Felix O. Ashakah; Publicity Secretary – Dr Z. Udo Mamudu; Treasurer – Dr (Mrs.) K. E. Dibie; Financial Secretary – Dr. Hilary T. Kanwanye; Ex-Officio – Prof. Agnes. Antai (Outgoing Chairman of NES-SSR).
And for NES-EDO, the following were elected: Chairman – Dr. Francis I. Igberaese; 1st Vice-Chairman – Dr. Mrs. F. Mogbolu; 2nd Vice Chairman – Dr. Judith Iseghohi; Secretary – Dr. Friday Ovenseri-Ogbomo; Asst. Secretary -Mr. Victor Ukpedor; Publicity Secretary/PRO – Dr Zebedee U. Mamudu; Asst. Publicity Secretary/PRO – Miss Queen Osemwengie; Treasurer – Dr Hillary A. Isikhuemen; Financial Secretary – Dr. G. O. Oyegun; Welfare Secretary – Mrs. Eseosa J. Sowemimo; Asst. Welfare Secretary – Mrs. Imade Edoimioya; Liaison Secretary – Mr. Micheal Oseh; Editor – Prof. Hassan E. Oaikhenan; 1st Associate Editor – Dr. Sylvester Onyeoma; 2nd Associate Editor – Dr. Hilary Kanwanye; Ex-Officio – Prof. Mercy A. Anyiwe (Out-going Chairman of NES-EDO).
The communique from the summit among other things made it clear that economic woes in Nigeria such as inflation and exchange rate instabilities may continue to ravage the Nigerian economy unless Nigeria and Nigerians adopt the 3Rs Model (Re-think, Re-Shift and Re-Arrange of Lives) to embrace productivity, honesty, incorruptibility, operative institutions, wholesome security, accountability and less-expensive system of government. These should sum up to 7point agenda for Nigeria and Nigerians.