Government to collaborate with the Tony Elumelu Foundation & Harvard's' Professor Michael Porter on National Competitiveness

Source: huhuonline.com

The federal government of Nigeria will collaborate with The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and its Founding Patron Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School, on ways of improving the Nigeria business climate particularly on its competitiveness amongst other nations of the world.

 
 
Indications to this effect emerged Monday August 8, 2011 at a meeting between the Vice President of Nigeria Architect Namadi Sambo, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of TEF, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, MFR, Harvard Business School Professor and TEF Founding Patron, Michael E. Porter, key advisers of the Vice President as well as other private sector leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 
The meeting was organized to discuss the country's national competitiveness and how it can be improved, as a means of engendering increased capital flows to the country. It was a follow up to the April meeting with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, by TEF's Advisory Board and the pledge to support government's efforts in boosting employment generation, increasing national competitiveness, encouraging social giving and facilitating access to finance by the Foundation.

 
'This could not have come at a better time,' said Vice President Sambo, stating further that 'government is committed to transforming the country and by extension the national economy.'

 
'We count ourselves lucky that you are showing interest in supporting Nigeria. We will quickly see how we can draw up a line of action that will see to the actualization of your expertise,' he said.

 
Professor Porter is the leading authority on company strategy and the competitiveness of nations and regions. Recognized in many governments, corporations and academic circles as the father of modern strategy, he has worked extensively with countries in Asia and other parts of the world. With the country's economic potentials, Porter said he is convinced that Nigeria can grow to become a star in the global economy like Brazil and China if we implement the right policies and strategies that will improve the conditions for doing business.

 
Professor Porter maintained, 'I am here to support the business community in strategizing and sharing data and analyses over the coming period.'  

 
In his remarks at the meeting, Elumelu said TEF in collaboration with Professor Porter is committed to helping Nigeria fast-track on growth and development.

 
 
 
'We are convinced that improving our national competitiveness will provide the impetus for rapid economic development. As an acknowledged expert in this field we think that Porter will be of invaluable support here.'

 
Immediately following the Villa meeting, Elumelu hosted key officials from President Jonathan's team for lunch in the Transcorp Hilton to engage them further on the competitiveness of nations in the context of the administration's transformation agenda. In attendance was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, President of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Foluso Phillips, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, GMD/CEO UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and other key public and private sector leaders.

 
For more information on The Tony Elumelu Foundation, please visit www.tonyelumelufoundation.org http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/ .

 
 
 
  Contact:
 
JeNika P. Mukoro
 
Director, Marketing & Corporate Communications
 
 
 
 
About The Tony Elumelu Foundation
  The Tony Elumelu Foundation is an Africa-based and African-funded not-for-profit institution, dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa. As a 21st century catalytic philanthropy, the Foundation is committed to economic transformation in Africa by enhancing the competitiveness and growth of the African private sector.