Our Transformation Agenda Yielding Impressive Results- FG

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to the realization of the Transformation Agenda, which it said were already yielding impressive results.
President Goodluck Jonathan stated this at the 16th meeting of the Honourary International Investors Council (HIIC) in Abuja.
The president who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo said Nigeria was today one of the strongest economic performers in Africa and that, for the second year, the United Nation’s Conference on Trade and Development has declared Nigeria as the number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in Africa.
He noted that the World Economic Forum on Africa hosted by the country earlier this year, has recorded impressive attendance with pledges sizeable additional investments into the economy. He also added that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution plan which was launched recently would increase the size of the manufacturing sector from the current 4% GDP to 10% GDP by the year 2017
“This strategic industrial plan focuses on 4 main areas, light manufacturing, agro-businesses, petro-chemicals, solid minerals and metals.It will help to develop the non-oil sector, fast-track our industrial development and create millions of jobs for Nigerians.” He said
He added that in the agricultural sector, reform efforts of federal government had produced substantial outcomes in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). “Through the growth enhancement scheme, we have provided subsidized farming inputs to over 4 million farmers. Last year alone, over 250,000 famers were engaged in producing 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice during the dry season” he said
The president also said that many young women across the country were trained and equipped with farming kits for fishery, snail keeping and livestock.
In the same vein the president added that the service industry in the country constitutes about 51% of the GDP by the recent rebasing results and that government was investing in areas like the ICT and the creative industry to generate more of such jobs which would be key to making the recent economic record more inclusive.
In the education sector, the president said his administration was improving the standard at both the states and federal levels and effecting teaching and infrastructure upgrade in institutions.
Moreover, President Goodluck Jonathan reiterated Nigeria’s position as the preferred Destination for Foreign Direct Investments despite the current security challenges. “within the last two months, we have played hosts to several business delegations from all over the world including a Chinese delegation of 100 businessmen, 75 Kenyan Businesses men, 18 Swiss Investors and the second largest business in enterprise in china a Fortune 500 company, which pledged to invest in our transmission and power generating sector.”
The president however stated that his administration was committed to ensuring the security of lives and property of the citizenry as the security forces were confronting terrorism and any form of insurgency that sought to undermine the security of the nation. “We will remain unyielding and will continue to reinforce our defences so as to rid the country of terrorism and the forces of evil that threaten our peace and development”,he said.
Baroness Lynda chalker, the coordinator of the HIIC said that some children in primary schools in Nigeria do not complete their education that was why the session would want to focus on education. She added that Nigeria’s progress depends on Power supply which was premised on Gas reforms, the management of the transmission company of Nigeria, fuel supply to power plants, speedy implementation of renewable energy and progress plan for developing domestic gas utilization. “Power and education are the heart of what must be achieved”
The HIIC was established in 2004 and holds two meetings per around eac year. It is an organization of prominent investors from around the world that advises the Nigerian government on matters pertaining to the country’s economic development. The council’s goals include reducing political corruption, helping Nigeria to become Africa’s biggest oil producer, attracting investment in the country from the private sector and from foreign countries, and making Nigeria more competitive in the global economy.