By Victor Gotevbe, Ikenna Asomba & Fiona Freddy
Nigerian and United States’ legislators and executives, industry experts among others would be meeting next month at the 2017 U.S-Nigeria Legislative and Executive Leadership Forum to discuss issues affecting Nigeria’s political and economic development, organisers have announced.
Zamfara State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari; Senator Anthony Muse of Maryland, United States; Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Hon. Boyd Rutherford; Former Nigeria Ambassador/Consul-General to U.S, Amb. Geoffrey Tenelaibe; Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Barr. Tunde Irukera, CEO/Publisher CKN News & President, Guild of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria, Chris Kehinde Nwandu; Founder Eneanya Foundation, Mr. Emeka Eneanya; CEO Conduit Communications Limited (IVLP Alumnus), Mr. Victor Gotevbe and CEO Career Education Academy (Safe Skies for Africa), Ejike Fashina
are among the Special Guests of Honours, Keynote Speakers and Guest Speakers lined up for the event scheduled to hold from November 15– 18, in Washington DC, USA.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Nanet Suites, Central Business District, Abuja, on Friday, October 13, 2017, Asha Okojie-Osazuwa, Founder, Festival of Arts & Culture Expo Inc. (FACE), Organisers for the event said the forum will provide a platform for sharing of ideas and effective policy discussions to affect a truly restructured Africa.
Themed “Nigeria Revitalisation Initiative: Global Partnership for Effective Development & Restructuring,” Okojie-Osazuwa said the forum will review the Legal and Regulatory Framework of Public Private Partnership and foreign Direct Investment policies, aviation, tourism and insurgency, food security among others.
The forum was aimed at strengthening regional security, energy, inter-parliamentary diplomacy, foreign policies, trade relations and philanthropic initiatives through cultural diplomacy, she said.
She also said the event would provide an empowerment platform for young leaders to engage in productive dialogue on the global stage.
Okojie-Osazuwa said the event is organised to “enhance public and private sectors involvement in promoting community economic development initiatives, Nigeria’s restructuring agenda, small and medium enterprises for economic growth and job creation by creating an enabling environment for investment and capacity building.”
Meanwhile, wife of Nigeria’s President, Aisha Buhari; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama; CEO, Kazeem Royal Properties Limited, Prince Kazeem Eletu-Odibo; CEO/MD Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; Senator Representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Ordia Aimienmona Clifford; General Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare; Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Amb. Donald Yamamoto; National Chairman of Royal Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr.) Thomas Obiwuru Obiefule; Nollywood Actress, Loveth Ebede and Executive Director, Agbonhagwe Leemon Ikpea Foundation, Chief Dr. Leemon Leemon Ikpea are eminent personalities that would be given honorary awards for their distinguished services in various fields of human endeavours.
Speaking to Journalists, Mr. Victor Gotevbe, CEO Conduit Communications Limited (IVLP Alumnus) and one of the Guest Speakers lined up for the Forum next month in the U.S., said the forum became pertinent as a result of the policies and other discourse that would be exchanged at the event.
According to Gotevbe, such policies and discourse would have a direct impact on the lives of the common man on the streets of Nigeria.
He said his organisation, Conduit Communications Limited and other bodies, including Festival of Arts & Culture Expo INC. (FACE), Afriqtalk Consult, United People For African Congress, International Art Resource Centre are partnering the host city- Maryland State Government to achieve a better socio-economic, political and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the U.S.
Similarly, President/CEO, United People for African Congress (UPAC), Dr. Sylvester Okere, in his remarks said, “We in America are very concerned about the struggles and challenges of our people. Nigeria being the most populous nation of Africa and the largest single black community in the world is faced with many opportunities as the Giant of Africa.
“We are rest assured that this robust program and continuing in partnerships, collaborating, and the huge networks of likeminded great men and women of noble ventures…the Boat shall rise again. And the Eagle “Nigeria” will soar steady and enviable as never before.”
Okere, who reminisced on the 57years Journey of the Nigerian nation, said, “Therefore, casting our minds back in remembrance and willing to follow the footsteps of the founding fathers of this great nation…in the 1960s, Nigeria was at the leadership of great fathers who put the country and the citizens first before politics, tribe, religion and other affiliations.
“We the organizers of this epic forum believe that with the same vein, this same Nigerian blood, the same vision and striving spirit “the lost glory shall come back” as it was in the days of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Belewa and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, men who love their country and put ALL Nigerians first in their agendas.”
“We therefore challenge our leaders and fellow Nigerians everywhere. Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. Come join us to rebuild Nigeria,” he said.
On his part, Ikenna Asomba, Media Manager, Conduit Communications Limited and Editor Diplomatic Watch, disclosed that “By the Special Grace of God, I am heading the Nigerian delegation of journalists team that would be at the 2017 US-Nigeria Legislative and Executive Leadership Forum, billed to hold at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Largo/ Washington DC, USA, Wednesday, 15 November – Saturday, 18 November, 2017.
“God willing, the Diplomatic Watch, powered by Conduit Communications, has helped to give media publicity to this epoch-making event. In the Nigerian soil, we have also coordinated and held successful Press Briefings first on October 6, 2017, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, and another one today, October 13, 2017, at the Nanet Suites, Central Business District, Abuja.
“With all these mechanisms put in place, we are optimistic to have a very successful event at the U.S., as I and members of my team would also coordinate the press publications in the U.S. and also ensure that the Communique for the Forum is captured succinctly.”
Meanwhile, other eminent personalities who spoke at the Press Briefing in Abuja, were former Nigerian Ambassador to U.S., Amb. Geoffrey Tenelaibe; Founder, INARC, Amb. Ifeoma Ejiogu; Publisher, Hallow Mace, Prince Anderson Osiebe; President, NACCIMA Youth Group, Abiola Ogundeko and S.A. (Media) to the Minister of Communications, Victor Oluwadamilare, among others.
