Strengthening the naira: Finance minister, CBN Governor among others expected at Abuja Chamber of Commerce Roundtable

President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu

By Anthony Maliki, Abuja

Top government officials including the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, alongside other stakeholders, are set to convene at the roundtable on the strengthening of the naira organised by the National Policy Advocacy Centre of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The event, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 24th April 2024, will delve into sectorial issues impacting the value of the Naira and explore strategies to fortify its purchasing power both domestically and on the international market.
President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, emphasised the imperative for robust stakeholder discussions to address measures aimed at reinforcing the Nigerian naira.
He highlighted the importance of bolstering the naira against global currencies through a concerted focus on local production of goods and services, reducing over-dependency on crude oil, and curbing excessive importation.
“The roundtable serves as a platform to rally stakeholders within the financial sector and the government to combat the challenges of devaluation and inflation,” the President of ACCI stated.
The Director of the Policy Advocacy Centre of ACCI, Mr Chidiebere Onwumere, the organizer of the event, stressed the anticipated participation of experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and the business community.

“The aim is to craft a communique for government consideration and implementation, focusing on reviewing past reforms, enhancing the ease of doing business, and attracting more investment.”
Key attendees include representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), prominent economists from Nigerian institutions, medical experts from India, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, the National Bureau of Statistics, financial experts, scholars, and other stakeholders from various sectors.
This roundtable follows last year’s successful economic policy discussion on Foreign Exchange Unification and the impact of fuel subsidy removal on businesses, which garnered significant participation from government officials, experts, and the business community.
As the voice of the business community, the roundtable, supported by Tangerine-Apt Pension, Dignity Finance, New Crystal ByMedia, and Panaceavaidik Medical Tourism, underscores ACCI’s commitment to advocating for pro-business policies through its Policy Advocacy Centre.