The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is a non-profit, non-partisan, private sector organisation with a mandate to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into a modern, globally competitive, sustainable, inclusive, open economy.

History
In 1993, a group of passionate and concerned private sector leaders representing key economic sectors conceived the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) and sustained it as a platform for bringing together private sector leaders and senior public sector officials to discuss and dialogue on the future of the Nigerian Economy.

Three years later, in 1996, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) was established and incorporated as a non-profit, non-partisan private sector organisation with a mandate to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, private sector-led globally competitive economy.

In 2022, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group appointed Olaniyi Yusuf as its new chairman. Mr Yusuf, who until his appointment was the first vice chairman of the NESG, took over from Asue Ighodalo, who was appointed in 2018 following the retirement of Mr Kyari Bukar.

The Nigerian Economic Summit 
The annual Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) is organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning. The Summit is a yearly gathering of high-level public and private sector leaders in Abuja, the nation’s capital, for dialogue on Nigeria’s economic management.

It brings together chief executives and top-level decision-makers from the private sector and the highest level policymaking officials from the public sector to discuss how best to grow the economy and to monitor the progress being made. Traditionally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), the Vice President, Ministers and other top-level government officials participate actively at the NES.

Partnerships

NESG/NGF Economic Roundtable (NNER) 
The NESG/NGF Economic Roundtable (NNER) roundtable is a partnership between the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the NESG. The roundtable works with sub-nationals to promote economic cooperation in clusters capable of taking advantage of economic corridors to create jobs in logistics, agriculture, storage and others.

Nigeria Triple Helix Roundtable (NTHR) 
The Nigeria Triple Helix Roundtable (NTHR) was launched on the 20th of September 2019 as a permanent platform for implementing the government-academia-industry collaboration towards fostering economic growth and national development in Nigeria. It is the first practical expression of the Triple-Helix model in the country, coming after the signing of an MoU between the National Universities Commission (NUC) (for academia) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) (for industry), and the interactive session and retreat which held thereafter.

Debt Management Roundtable (DMR) 
The Debt Management Roundtable (DMR) on debt restructuring and social financing was instituted in March 2021 by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) with the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The Roundtable is expected to provide recommendations on debt management and sustainability, with a view to engaging policymakers on debt restructuring and social financing in the West African region, using Nigeria as a case study. Public debts in ECOWAS have spiraled upwards more than four folds since the debt relief period (2005-2006).

NESG Bridge Fellowship 
The NESG Bridge Fellowship was initiated in the year 2019 by the board of directors to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#25). The NESG, in collaboration with LEAP Africa, launched the NESG Bridge Fellowship.

Interventions

National Agriculture Seeds Council Act 
The NESG engaged in advocacy programs prior to the passage and signing into law of the National Agriculture seeds council Act 2019. The Act seeks to make the seeds market more structured and enables the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to regularly publish the National Seed Catalogues showing seed and price varieties eligible for certification in Nigeria.

Fertiliser Quality Control Act 
The NESG and other stakeholders partnered to ensure the passage of the Fertiliser Quality Control Bill 2019 to help safeguard farmers against nutrient deficiencies that may occur as a result of the use of adulterated fertilisers. The Act also seeks to create an enabling environment for businesses in the fertiliser industry to thrive and Improve the productivity of the agriculture sector.

Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Bill 
The NESG in partnership with the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA), together with AGRA, the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, collaborated with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to support the enaction of legislation that will provide a plant variety protection system for Nigeria. The PVP when passed into law is expected to incentivize national and multinational agribusiness investments and aid the development of Nigeria's Agriculture value chain.

National Food Safety & Quality Bill (Foodorado) 
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in its drive to ensure safe, nutritious and affordable foods for all Nigerians is supporting the enactment and passage of a food safety and Quality Bill. Through the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA), together with AGRA, the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, the NESG has been collaborating with the Federal ministry of health and other relevant ministries and agencies of government to support the enaction of legislation that will support and enhance food safety and security for Nigeria.

NASSBER 
The National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) is a partnership between the National Assembly, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law to initiate and review business, investment, and job creating laws in Nigeria. This collaboration established a platform for the private sector to support the legislature in its drafting, deliberations, discussions, and review of laws that will improve Nigeria’s business environment. It is expected that through this supportive work, and resulting legislation, Nigeria’s economy will achieve inclusive growth and sustainability, create jobs and generally cater to the wellbeing of Nigerians. The NESG serves as the secretariat of NASSBER.

NESG Radio 
The NESG Radio is a traditionally syndicated podcast that keeps Nigerians informed through localised content on economic policies and issues across sectors of the Nigerian economy. The radio aims at extending research-based advocacy and impactful policy-making to all Nigerians, including the urban technology inclined audiences, as well as rural dwellers. The radio has had guests from the private sector, public sectors, civil societies and donor communities speak on issues of national interests.

Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) 
The PIC is the first national institutionalized behavioural initiative in Africa and was conceptualized to support government and private stakeholders in making behaviourally informed decisions as well as generate evidence through behavioural studies for interventions in critical thematic areas. The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and is supported by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The PIC support ongoing efforts on critical priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially Gender Equality, No Poverty, Quality Education, Good Health and Wellbeing, Partnership for the Goals.

References

External links
Official website

Economic development in Nigeria
Business organizations based in Nigeria