Business
Nigeria’s Finance Minister For The Economy Champions Technology, Revenue Growth At Semafor World Economy Summit
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, showcased the pivotal role of digitization and fiscal reforms during his appearance at the Semafor World Economy Summit, held alongside the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings.
Co-chaired by former U.S. Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker and The Carlyle Group Co-Founder, David Rubenstein, the summit brought together global economic leaders. “Technology runs throughout everything that we are doing,” HM Edun stated, highlighting the comprehensive integration of digital solutions in government operations to boost efficiency and transparency.
In a candid discussion with Yinka Adegoke of Semafor, HM Edun outlined Nigeria’s targets for fiscal improvement and economic stabilisation. He emphasised that the government is capitalising on digitisation technology to significantly enhance revenue management and collection, setting a goal for an over 60% revenue increase this year. This strategy is essential for reducing the nation’s fiscal deficit from 6.1% to 3.8% of GDP and alleviating economic pressures on Africa’s largest economy.
“To get the economy going again, we do have to bring down inflation, we have to stabilise the exchange rate, and we eventually need to get interest rates down so investors can borrow in addition to their equity,” explained Edun, delineating the key economic stabilisation measures necessary to create a more attractive investment climate.
Minister Edun also addressed the government’s strategic efforts to boost oil production, underlining that augmenting revenue is crucial for sustainable debt management. “The answer to debt is revenue,” Edun remarked, comparing Nigeria’s fiscal strategies to those of the United States and highlighting the necessity to generate adequate revenue to fulfil obligations and attract investments.
Moreover, HM Edun pointed out the significant strides made in stabilising the Naira and enhancing its performance through improved coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, increasing its appeal to both portfolio and direct foreign investors. “And if you stabilise the economy for portfolio investors to come, behind them are the longer-term, more stable, and bigger foreign direct investors who make a bigger commitment to the country. That’s why I say it’s a progression,” Edun articulated, underscoring the sequential improvement and attraction strategy for investors.
HM Edun continues his active engagement at the ongoing World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, collaborating with international counterparts to advance Nigeria’s economic interests and developmental objectives.
Business
Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Presents Budget Performance Report to National Assembly
Joel Ajayi
The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has presented its budget performance report to the National Assembly, highlighting the ministry’s achievements, challenges, and future plans.
The report which was presented to the House Committee on Art, Culture and Creative Economy on Wednesday, detailed the ministry’s efforts to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, support the growth of the creative industry, and drive economic growth.
The ministry’s initiatives include developing a robust intellectual property policy, investing in infrastructure, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders.
The ministry’s budget performance presentation which highlighted its eight-point plan, initiatives such as Nigeria Destination 2030, skills development, policy frameworks, intellectual property protection, strategic partnerships, growth targets, digital transformation, and cultural heritage preservation was given a thumbs up by the House committee.
During the presentation, the minister, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa highlighted the challenges faced by the ministry, including limited resources and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, she said that the ministry has made significant progress in promoting Nigerian culture and supporting the creative industry.
Musawa also emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership in driving the growth of the creative industry.
“We cannot do this alone. We need to work together with stakeholders, including industry experts, international partners, and the National Assembly, to drive economic growth and job creation”.
The minister explained that the ministry’s initiatives are expected to have a significant impact on the creative industry, generating revenue, creating jobs, and promoting Nigerian culture globally. She stated that the ministry is also exploring ways to develop infrastructure, including a physical Bollywood-style destination, and creating a streaming platform to showcase Nigerian content.
“The ministry has also secured a grant from the French treasury to support infrastructure development, and is working to leverage international partnerships to drive growth in the creative industry” the minister said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, MFR, mni. highlighted key achievements and budget performance in the sector as well as the ministry’s GDP contribution to the economy, tourism revenue accrued, and project implementation.
The Chairman, House Committee on Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zok commended the ministry’s initiatives and expressed the Committee’s commitment to support the growth of the creative industry.
“We are here to access your budget performance and ensure effective utilization of funds appropriated. We expect to have a closer working relationship with the ministry”.
The interaction with the House Committee members provided insights into the Ministry’s efforts to drive economic growth and development through strategic initiatives and project implementation.
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