The Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit 2020 on Thursday, October 8, 2020, unveiled the logo for the three-day event as it also targets over 100,000 participants.
The Lagos Economic Summit stakeholders conference and logo unveiling held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Ehingbeti 2020 will hold from November 10-12, 2020.
The three-day event is themed “For A Greater Lagos: Setting The Tone For The Next Decade.”
Welcoming the attendees, Co-Chair of the Summit and Chairman, Citi Bank, Yemi Cardoso gave the Summit’s essence.
“Ehingbeti is for accelerating economic development through public, private partnerships,” Cardoso said.
The maiden edition of Ehingbeti took place in 2000 in Akodo.
The second edition followed a year later at the same location.
Ehingbeti started as a diagnostic summit.
It is a public-private sector roundtable that started as a collaborative effort between the Lagos State Government and Business Club Ikeja.
However, the second edition birthed 17 resolutions.
Since then, there has been no going back.
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It was not smooth sailing though, as the event was last held in 2014.
Cardoso, speaking on behalf of the private sector, thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for reviving the Summit.
Another decade of opportunities
Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit was borne out of the need to accelerate Lagos state’s economic growth and development.
Shedding light on the reason for this year’s theme, Honourable Commissioner, Economic Planning and Budget, and Co-Chair of the Summit, Sam Egube admitted that the state is facing challenges.
However, he said that the goal of the Summit is to focus on the challenges and proffer solutions for the next ten years.
“The next decade presents many opportunities, but it also comes with challenges,” he said.
He assured that the 2020 event would be bigger and affect Lagos in significant ways for the next decade.
Bringing together partners of Lagos
Sholape Hammond, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on SDG, said that Ehingbeti Summit is an avenue to bring together Lagos state’s partners.
She also used the opportunity to solicit for support for the success of the event.
The Lagos Economic Summit 2020 is a virtual one due to the restrictions of large gatherings as a result of COVID-19.
For her, this is a blessing in disguise.
The event is targeting over 100,000 participants.
Furthermore, Hammond expects active participation from friends of Lagos home and in the diaspora.
Additionally, she believes the event will come up with resolutions to address the challenges of Lagos.
Private sector support
Representatives from various private organisations present at the event commended the state government for the initiative.
They also assured of their continued support for the Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, assured of his government’s support.
He also described Ehingbeti as an engine for growth.
DG, the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ayo Olukanni, wants the Summit to focus on solid waste challenges in the state.
He urged the state to use the Ehingbeti Summit to look at transitioning to a circular plastic economy.
Executive Director, Citi Bank, Funmi Ogunlesi wants the state to focus more on technology and innovations.
She believes that if Lagos gets it right, Nigeria would also.
Others present at the event are representatives of the European Business Organisation (EBO), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Dutch Bank, Total Nigeria, Mercedes Benz, Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), amongst others.
and then