Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), on Wednesday in Lagos said that Africa would be the engine of global economic growth in the 21st century.
Enelamah made the assertion while delivering a keynote address at the launch of a book titled, “Foundations of Structured Trade Financing’’ written by Dr Benedict Oramah, President of AFREXIM bank.
Represented by Mr Femi Edun, Special Adviser, Trade and Finance in the MITI, the minister said that in spite of Nigeria’s challenges, “the country will rise again’’.
Enelamah said that Oramah was a classical example of “made in Nigeria’’ product exported to the world.
He said that the publication of the book was at a period when Africa was finding solutions to its developmental challenges.
He appealed to financial experts to do all in their power to make the present commodity price crisis in Nigeria a thing of the past.
The minister said that the present administration was working hard to ensure that it diversified the economy away from a mono product.
According to him, the economic crises in 1980 were wasted on the country since it did not result in the development of structures that would strengthen the nation’s economy.
“We must sieze the current commodity price crises to formulate solutions,’’ Enelamah said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book launch attracted stakeholders from the banking sector, academia and politicians. (NAN)