By Victor Asije
#TrackNigeria: Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, a Clergyman, on Wednesday observed that it would be
the interest of Europe and China to see Nigeria remain an exporter of primary produce,
with little or no value addition.
Ighodalo, the Managing Partner of SiAO, an Accounting, Auditing and Financial Advisory firm,
made the observation in Lagos at the maiden edition of Perchstone and Graeys’ Breakfast Meeting
with the theme: “Global Politics: Local Consequences’’.
“ Nigeria as a sovereign nation is not impervious from happenings
around the world and from the direct actions resulting from the
decisions of some certain nations.
“That Nigeria remains an exporter of primary produce to the world is
not only a function of local mismanagement and maladministration, it
is also a function of deliberate policies by global economic actors.
“China and Europe would rather we remain exporters of primary
produce, with little or no value addition,’’ he said.
According to him, a fresh scramble for Africa has commenced and Nigeria
remains a principal target for global political actors, on account
of its size and economic impact in the continent.
Ighodalo said the new scramble would give the external forces the
opportunity to continue to play surreptitious roles in the outcomes
of elections in Nigeria.
He reminded Nigerians of the direct and far-reaching implications of global politics
for Nigeria and other emerging markets.
Ighodalo said that unfolding global politics was likely to affect
Nigeria’s economic prosperity, trade policies, domestic politics and
foreign direct investment.
The clergyman, who noted that the whole world was changing, added that
Nigeria urgently needed an institute of future research and an
Innovation and Technology research institute.
He called for Nigeria’s partnership with the United States and Norway,
to revolutionalise the nation’s educational system on a Public
Private Partnership (PPP) basis.
Ighodalo also recommended among others, the need for Nigeria to focus
on value addition to agricultural and mineral resources.
Nigeria’s major export produce include: Ginger, Palm Kernel Oil, Textiles and Garments,
Cocoa Butter, Gallstone, Rubber, Sesame seed, Honey, Garlic and Shrimps.
Others are: Yam tubers, Charcoal, Cotton, Cassava flour, Cashew nuts, Snail, Fruit juice, Poultry and Cosmetics. (NAN)
