The governments of Kano and Lagos States holds an economic summit themed “States Partnership as a Tool for Sustainable Economic Development” from 28th February to 1st March , to discuss strategies and collaboration with a view to boosting ease of doing business and their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The discussants at the summit are Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi; Oba of Lagos, HRH Rilwan Akiolu; former National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; development experts and a host of others.
The summit will focus on thematic areas such as security, governance, ease of doing business, agriculture, tourism, internally generated revenue, education and key infrastructure like power, transportation, and urban waste management.
The states have been the major players in economic development in Nigeria and this is one reason the states collaborated towards a long-lasting partnership and agreements to help both states boost economic development and as a nation, foster national unity.
The Chairman, Steering Committee, and Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade said;
“Globally, inter-state and regional partnerships are fast becoming benchmarks and leading practices for economic growth and development. Equipped with this knowledge, the governments of Lagos and Kano states, under the visionary and able leadership of their Excellences – Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje respectively decided to take a leading role towards maximizing the unique comparative and competitive economic and investment opportunities of both States.”
He also disclosed that “adequate measures had been firmed up to ensure that the summit is not another talk show, hence, the decision to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two states, designed to seal and sustain the partnership.
The Governments of Lagos and Kano states are optimistic on the outcomes of this Summit, in terms of Sustainable National Development. We hope that the ensuing collaboration will offer a constructive case study for other states of the Federation to emulate by looking inwards and developing blueprints for their own inter-state collaborations that will propel them towards achieving economic sufficiency.”
Commenting, the Chairman, Technical Committee for the summit from Kano, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, said “Lagos and Kano states had a lot of similarities, and that the summit will bring both to the fore with the overall objective of learning from each other to foster mutually beneficial relationship.”
