Former Senate President Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aliyu Wamakko, and several former deputy governors have called for a renewed national commitment to industrial productivity as a pathway to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth.

The leaders made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the 4th Annual National Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria, themed “Boosting Nigeria’s Productive Capacity for National Growth and Self-Reliance: The Role of Leadership, Industry and Innovation in Policy Implementation.”

Industrialisation Key to Economic Revival — Anyim

Delivering the keynote address, Senator Anyim said Nigeria’s economic progress since independence has recognised the importance of industrialisation but suffered setbacks due to policy inconsistency, political instability, and weak national institutions.

“The imperative of a productive economy was never lost on our governments since 1960,” he said.
“The collapse of industrial clusters in Kano, Kaduna, Aba, Onitsha, and Lagos was not due to ignorance of their benefits, but because of policy inconsistency, ethnicity, corruption, and loss of national values.”

He emphasised that every successful local economy requires policy protection, competitive production environments, and patriotic governance, urging the federal and state governments to strengthen infrastructure and shield local manufacturers from unfair competition.

Wamakko Calls for Shared Vision and Policy Continuity

Chairman of the conference, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, commended the forum for sustaining its tradition of policy-oriented engagement. He urged participants to prioritise practical, actionable measures that could reposition Nigeria’s industrial base for competitiveness and sustainability.

“We must sustain our collective commitment and efforts because they play a vital role in propelling Nigeria toward prosperity and self-reliance,” Wamakko said.

He also called for a shared national vision and consistent policy framework across all levels of government to enhance trust, confidence, and development.

Forum Pushes for Innovation, Collaboration

In his address, the National Chairman of the Forum, Dr Chris Akomas, said the conference sought to chart new strategies for reviving Nigeria’s productive capacity and building a self-reliant, innovation-driven economy anchored on leadership integrity and industrial growth.

“Nation-building is not a sprint; it is a continuous process,” Akomas stated.
“Nigeria’s challenge has never been the absence of potential, but how best to harness and translate that potential into tangible growth, sustainable wealth, and improved quality of life for our people.”

He urged government, private sector, and civil society to work together in implementing creative solutions that would unlock industrial capacity, create jobs, and strengthen economic resilience.

The event was attended by former deputy governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and development experts, who participated in plenary sessions focusing on industrial innovation, leadership accountability, and policy coherence as drivers of sustainable development.