Participants of Rivers state economic and investment summit, were thrown into celebratory mood on Thursday, following the reinstatement of Muhammad Sanusi 11 as 14th Emir of Kano.
It all started when the Master of Ceremony broke the news to them that HRH Sanusi 11 had been reinstated.
The news, according to our correspondent, made the participants, including top government officials to jump out of their seats rejoicing, dancing, shaking hands and pating one another on the back.
HRH Sanusi 11 was earlier at the event but left the venue immediately after delivering his key note address.
He was said to be presenting his address when the text of his reinstatement entered his mobile phone.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, along with the former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, had accompanied him to the summit ground for his enchanting presentation.
Delivering the keynote address, HRH Sanusi 11 who was the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, said that the gross damage done to the national economy in the past 10 years, cannot be undone in one year but advised that immediate steps must be taken to deliberately rejuvenate enduring economic activities for growth.
He called for a paradigm shift in harnessing efforts towards sustainable economic growth and prosperity with tenable decisions that strengthen governance around economic development in order to improve investment promotion.
The former CBN Governor noted that implementing reforms of an economy at any level of either state or nation can hurt mere politics, and indeed, painful because it will appear unpopular but added that it must done to guarantee a better future the people.
He said, “As the second largest economy in Nigeria after Lagos, Rivers State has a unique opportunity to emerge as a beacon of progress in all places.
“It has the opportunity to operationalize ideals of the concept of the sub-nationalism in a federal context by building a resilient, dynamic, modern and effective system that fosters economic development and prosperity.
“But sitting on oil or any natural resources is not enough for economic development. Oil is a resource and is not enough to make us a wealthy country.
“To achieve development, it is imperative that we recognize the need to take specific steps that transcend natural resources, to diversify and institutionalize foundational economic framework to fully reap the blessing of all in stock.”
HRH Sanusi said in order to harness the abundant resources into real blessing, leaders must stop being accursed so that they can make the right choices to foster deep thinking, deliberate and strategic actions with political will to perform and achieve sustainable development.
“Human capital and good governance are why countries that are complex in their characteristics such as India, Brazil, China and the US, have developed through innovation, intellectual probity, education and strong public institutions.
“We must put a stress on human capital and design education and skill training that are fit for this century.
“You need innovators and entrepreneurs that will supply services across all value chains and industries, and it is important to raise the quality of schools by investing in teaching capacity, learning tools and pedology that will nurture a culture of creativity and problem solving.
“It is critically important to invest in vocational training and apprenticeship to close education gap, aligning with the needs of our economy.”
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has congratulated His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II on his reinstatement.
Governor Fubara said that he received the news of the reinstatement of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with great excitement, particularly coming at a time Khalifa Sanusi II was in the State to add impetus to his administration’s initiative to reshape the economic trajectory of the State.
He also urged the spiritual leader of the Tijanniyah Sufi order of Nigeria, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, to lead the over 50 million adherents of the Sufi order in Nigeria with love, wisdom and courage while bringing lasting peace, justice, equity and fairness to all in the city of Kano.
He wished the 14th Emir of Kano a successful and fruitful reign that will bring progress and prosperity to the people of the State.
Also, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has congratulated His Royal Highness Sanusi II on his reinstatement.
