The Think Tank on Nigeria (TTON), a group of technocrats concerned with policy analysis and advocacy, has suggested ways to industrialise Nigeria and tackle its foreign exchange and other economic challenges
TTON is an online policy advocacy platform with 278 members from various professions drawn from different geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The group’s suggestions are contained in a document titled “Conversations Volume 1,” an 85-page compendium of the conversations of TTON, presented in Lagos on Wednesday.
“Conversations” is a compendium of communiques on various pertinent issues meant to contribute to the body of knowledge to resolve issues across sectors in the nation.
TTON convener Dideolu Falobi, while presenting the document, said Nigeria had enough human and natural resources to halt economic and other challenges bedevilling the nation.
He said the TTON team was currently working on subsidy towards producing volume 2 of the compendium.
He suggested 18 ways the government could comfortably fund the budget and the economy without borrowing.
He said all previous ideas of economic growth indices in the nation were limiting and did not target the full industrialization principles needed to boost manufacturing.
“If we do not industrialise, our growth will continue to be static. When the price of fuel goes up, we will be making money. When the price of fuel comes down, we will be broke.
“Industrialization is the bedrock of development; it is the way we can conserve our forex and earn more,” he said.
He said the informal sector was making a huge impact and recommended how it could be brought into the formal sector to tap into the potential for accelerated growth of the nation’s GDP.
“If we can reduce corruption by 50 percent, we will probably grow our GDP by 100 percent,” he said.
He said the TTON platform was created to offer solutions by bringing together all segments and social classes of Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora.
He thanked collaborators who helped in the realisation of its communique while reeling out resolutions from the communique.
Falobi, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a fellow of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IoD), and a fellow of several other professional associations, said TTON was not a political group.
The convener said TTON started circulation in May 2022 and had been able to reach some governors, senators, and local government leaders.
“We don’t want to be seen as a political group. We are a professional organization, hence our method of sending the documents out.
“From tomorrow, we will start delivering the books to all tiers of government across the federation. The website has opened.
“It is meant to add to the body of knowledge within each of the 10 sectors covered by this volume.
“It is our contribution to the assurance of a better Nigeria. You can download soft copies from our website, www.ttonigeria.org,” he said.
He said the solutions by the organisation available on all social media platforms were without any biases but passion for Nigeria’s growth.
He appealed to the government to partner with the group, as this is being done globally for the growth of all sectors in the nation’s economy.
NAN reports that the compendium discussed industrialization, means of funding the Nigerian economy, substance abuse, and its impact.
Other areas include future elections in Nigeria, development, corruption, and mental health.
It also discussed entertainment, sports, youth engagement, the Nigerian informal sector, and the way forward.
It also focused on the mining sector and national development, among others.
Communiques 3 and 4 captured industrialization and means of funding the Nigerian economy; 6 reviewed the mining sector; and 7 and others spoke on how to overcome electoral challenges, substance abuse, and other issues.
NAN reports that “Conversations” was later unveiled and the website officially launched. (NAN)
