Olawepo Hashim calls for new economic plan

Businessman and front line politician, Mr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has declared that with collective steadfastness, Nigeria will surely emerge from the socio-economic challenges strongrt.

He made this remark at a public lecture delivered at the Post Graduate College, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State.

Mr Hashim stated that, an agenda for all round national development is clearly possible not just for the development of the nation but for a transformation for generations yet unborn.

At the event chaired by the University’s vice-chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, Hashim agreed that though slight progress has been made since the advent of democracy in Nigeria between 1999-2015, the nation still remains “underdeveloped” by regular classification.

“With 62 percent of the population living below $2 a day and considered poor, with life expectancy of 51 years, and over 40% illiterate population, bedeviled with a parlous infrastructure such as poor electricity distribution, poor road networks, and dilapidated health infrastructure, the underdevelopment profile was in bad relief,” he stated.

Hashim also told the predominantly academia audience that: “I remain optimistic about Nigerian development trajectory when we tap and build on the energy, creativity, imagination and the industry of everyday Nigerian which is the most important asset that Nigeria possess beyond her oil wealth and natural resources”

He praised the nation’s resourceful diaspora community comprising scientists, intelligentsias, innovators, professionals, footballers and entrepreneurs adding golden pages to Nigeria’s rising story.

Olawepo Hashim suggesting a range of solutions to the country's challenges. He called for a new economic plan to transform the economy to manufacturing from agrarian economy as well as production of primary products.

According to him: “Ultimately, Nigeria needs to grow the manufacturing sector in such a way that it will account for 30-40 percent of her GDP and be a major employer of labour.”