NESG Opens National Dialogue On Leadership, Inclusive Growth

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has launched the inaugural edition of The Nigerian Hamilton Project: A National Dialogue Series on Development as Attitude in Enugu, setting the stage for a renewed national conversation on leadership, governance, and inclusive growth.

Held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, the event brought together thought leaders, academics, public officials, and private sector stakeholders for robust discussions on Nigeria’s development trajectory. The programme featured a fireside chat with renowned economist and thought leader, Professor Osita Ogbu, alongside an interactive panel session, audience engagement, and a book signing event.

Enugu State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Emeka Urama, emphasized the importance of social cohesion to sustainable economic development. “Sustainable economic growth cannot thrive without social cohesion. When citizens feel excluded or marginalized, it breeds discontent and resistance to development efforts,” Dr.

Urama said, according to a statement by the NESG.

He underscored the need for inclusive leadership that prioritizes unity, security, infrastructure, human capital development, and the resolution of social issues to foster an environment conducive to private sector investment and long-term economic stability.

Also speaking at the dialogue, Director of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Dr. Ben Nwosu, criticized the disconnect between leadership rhetoric and action. “In social sciences, leadership is judged not by words, but by actions. True commitment is shown in how much we invest in education, healthcare, and improving lives. Unfortunately, what we often hear today are slogans—not a real development philosophy,” he stated.

Providing a private sector perspective, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, Chairman of the FIT Group of Companies, urged policymakers to anchor development policies on people-centered outcomes. She highlighted agriculture and housing as the bedrock sectors capable of driving meaningful job creation and improving livelihoods. “At the heart of development is the people—measured by the jobs we create and the lives we improve,” she said, cautioning against an overemphasis on physical infrastructure alone.

Adding further insight, Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and former Economic Adviser to the Abia State Government, Dr. Chukwuma Agu, pointed to a flawed leadership philosophy as Nigeria’s fundamental development challenge.

“Our leaders behave like ‘rich kids,’ believing our natural resources make us wealthy,” Dr. Agu noted, warning that this mentality fosters complacency amid widespread poverty. He advocated for a shift towards inclusive economic models that emphasize agriculture and manufacturing as job-creating sectors, rather than overreliance on oil, telecoms, and finance.

The Enugu dialogue marked the beginning of The Nigerian Hamilton Project National Dialogue Series, which aims to reframe development as an attitude and mindset issue, rather than just policy outputs. The next edition is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, where discussions will continue on building a leadership culture that prioritizes inclusive, people-driven development.