Emerging Africa Investors’ Summit Addresses High Inflation, Interest Rates, Others

Ayodeji Ake

In a bid to recommend sustainable solutions to the high inflation and interest rates in Nigeria, the maiden edition of the Emerging Africa Investors Summit, had in attendance financial experts, investors, organised private sector players, and policy makers who deliberated on the way forward.

Addressing journalists at the summit held in Lagos, Founder and Executive Vice-Chair, Emerging Africa Group, Dr(Mrs) Toyin Sanni, who spoke on the significance of the summit, noted the event was organised to assure investors and to encourage Nigerians on productivity to discourage importation which consequently, would pull the nation from inflation.

She said: “We set out to hold this maiden edition of the investors’ summit, dinner and awards night. The idea is to gather top leaders to engage the investing public and share with them our perspective outlook for the Nigerian economy. Why they should keep investing and believing in Nigeria. 

To enlighten them on what has been done towards reforming our economy, how impactful are those reform initiatives, what could be done, and our role as investors, operator and organized private sector.

“A key part of our role is advocacy. Making sure our voices are heard. When we hold a summit like this, we publicise the outcome and expect policy makers get a feedback, expect investors to be assured that Nigeria is worth investing in.

“One of the issues that was raised at the summit is the raising of  interest rate which needs to be addressed and also actions that government can take to curtail inflation. High interest rates have destructive path on businesses.”

According to her,  Nigerians need to start considering productivity so that we can depend less on importation and  encouraging our corporate industry by providing affordable finance.

“At Emerging Africa, we are positioning ourselves as thought leaders and also as an institution that looks beyond it immediate environment but at the future of the nation and also as contribute-activists.”

Speaking on the dinner and award ceremony held after the summit, Sanni said: “The motivation for the award is to appreciate our key partners  that have  helped us to accomplish the successes we have recorded so far.”

The Divisional Head, Corporate Finance and Advisory Services, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Leonard Kange, who commended Emerging Africa Group for the concerted efforts, said the  summit is pivotal for economic growth.

“This event is very pivotal in helping to drive a change that is needed to support the Nigerian economy. At BOI out mandate is to support industries to grow. Events like this help us take our gospel out there on what the BOI has been doing and provide  solutions  to our customers.

And also for potential investors who want to invest in Nigeria, showcasing to them what they can benefit from BOI. We are  providing medium to long term financing at affordable rate which is  very hard to find,” he said.

Speaking about the features of the wealth App 2.0, Head of Work Management, Emerging Africa, Mrs. Abiola Oyekunle, said the application has been developed to provide investment products and to give room for younger demography.

“The app is an amazing initiative that has been designed to help investors. Its  user friendly. The app is a way of bridging the gap of access to investment. On one click, investors can access various investment products. The investor can on board themselves. This is encourage the younger demography,” she said.