... DG NIPSS, Prof. Omotayo Calls on FG to Give Legal Backing to National Development Plan
The 2024 Annual Conference and AGM of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN) with the theme, ‘’Resetting National Priorities: The Role of Strategic Management’’ enters Day 2 filled with the most significant sessions of the official unveiling of the New Institute Logo.
In recognition of their numerous contribution to human development, some of the distinguished Nigerians, who are captains of Industries were honoured with Grand Fellowship Awards, and Honorary Fellowship Awards respectively, amongst them were Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, the Chairman of the Senate Committee of Trade and Investment, and Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, also, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu OON, Madakin Lokoja Chairman, Trade Modernization Project Limited and Mr Wale Tinubu CON Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC SUB- Saharan Africa's foremost indigenous integrated energy group.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, presented a paper that acknowledges that Nigeria, as a diverse and populous nation, faces a myriad of challenges ranging from economic disparities and social issues to political complexities, all of which have impaired the nation-building process.
The paper avers that strategic management underscores the significance of a systematic and well-thought-out approach to navigating the complexities associated with resetting national priorities. Therefore, within the context of this paper, it will mean a methodical and intentional process to guide the nation through the reset of its priorities.
Notwithstanding, the paper concludes that resetting Nigeria's national priorities through strategic management has the potential to steer Nigeria towards a more prosperous and equitable future.
He called on the Federal Government to give legal backing to its national development plan to ensure implementation.
Prof Omotayo said that the developmental challenges being faced by Nigeria stemmed from a lack of national priorities on the part of the political and strategic leaders.
He also listed LEADERSHIP ECONOMIC INIQUALITY, INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT, CORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE issues, SECURITY CONCERNS and YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT.
He said that everyone thinking privately and individually would not by themselves, define national priorities because they will define their own national, personal problems as national priorities.
According to him, there is no guideline for defining what national priorities are in various jobs and positions vis-Ã -vis the overarching national objective.
He noted that whenever there is a national development plan, it should be a law.
``When we sit down and we define these things as our national development plan, it should be a lot unchangeable for the period that you expect the development plan to last. But do we have that as a priority to stay on course and say this is what we are going to do until the change comes?
``Everybody comes into office and they personalised national agenda because most of the times when there is no guiding framework, personal objectives become national priorities,’’ he said.
Omotayo said the current challenges facing Nigeria were leadership, economic inequality, infrastructural deficit, corruption and governance issues as well as security concerns due to unemployment.
He said that resetting national priorities suggests a profound foray into the recalibration of Nigeria's national building process.
National priorities are considered areas of focus that the government is most critical for the well-being These priorities could encompass welfare, and infrastructure development as the fundamental goals stakeholders consider and the progress of the nation. economic growth, social education, and healthcare, amongst others.
He added that there was an urgent need for a strategic realignment of the country's priorities, with particular emphasis on the pivotal role that strategic management can play in the transformation process.
"Resetting National Priorities: The Tale of Strategic Management suggests a profound foray into the recalibration of Nigeria's nation-building process, the overarching goals and focus areas of Nigeria as a nation. It centres around the urgent need for a strategic realignment of the country's priorities, with a particular emphasis on the pivotal role that strategic management plays in this transformative process." Prof Omotayo said
A discussion session has three discussion panels that discuss the current challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria that necessitate a resetting of national priorities.
The President of ISMN, Mr Alex Enebeli, said there was a need to review the progress of Nigeria to identify where it had failed especially in its agenda and development plans to put its priorities right.
Enebeli said the conference was intended to proffer solutions and come up with recommendations that would help the nation go through all that it had planned.
He said there was a need to know the priorities as a nation, work the priorities to their end, and set a development plan for five, 10 or 50 years.
At the annual conference and AGM of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), there will be an election to elect a new president of the Institute to continue driving the vision and mission of the institute.
