The event arm of the foremost International socio economics news magazine,The Economist, has concluded plans to hold the eleventh edition of the annual Nigeria Summit.

Slated for March 7 and 8, 2016 at the highbrow InterContinental Hotel, Lagos, the 2016 Nigeria Summit will bring key government ministry officials, industry and business leaders as well as representatives of Nigerian civil society; together with international investors, economists and academics to discuss and debate Nigeria’s economic direction.

Themed, “The Dawn of A New Day?”, the summit is expected to examine and review the various opportunities and challenges that Nigeria is facing in view of her first democratic power transfer and the implications of the global macro-economic forces, which are being shaped by the dramatic fall in oil prices, the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, according to a statement made available to CEOAfrica part of the statement read: “In view of this, The Economist Events has lined up an array of high net worth personalities in government and commerce from across the globe as speakers, which include Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-president, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group and Chairman Dangote Foundation; Danladi

Verheijen, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Verod; Herbert Wigwe, Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank; Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria.

“Other speakers and panelists are Bob Diamond, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Merchant Capital; Alhaji Kashim Shettina, governor, Borno State, Nigeria; Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer, IMANI; Philip Lindop, Head of Africa Banking, Barclays Africa Group, Fola Laoye, Chairman, Hygeia Group.

“In addition, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al Makura, governor, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Chief Willie Obiano, governor, Anambra State, Nigeria, Onno Schellekens, Chief Executive Officer, Pharm Access Group; Issam Darwish, Executive Vice-chairman & Chief Executive Officer, IHS; Adebola Williams, Co-Founder, RED; and Chief Eric Umeofia (Ikuku Oma, Amichi),President and Chief Executive Officer, Erisco Foods Limited are also billed to speak at the summit,” it read.

“This year’s Nigeria Summit will bring together more than 350 participants drawn from different walks of life including Nigeria’s public and private sectors, international business players and investors for a discussion on what the future holds for Nigeria” Jonathan Rosenthal, Africa Editor at The Economist commented.

Part of the conversation for this year is expected to reflect on the positive change that has been witnessed in governance and in the socio-economic life of the people over the past nine months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership. discussion will also be on how economic growth can improve security; strategies for placing economic growth at the heart of Nigeria’s effort to unite the country; and, how Nigeria can achieve economic diversification away from oil, overcome challenges and plug the holes in public finances (reduce official corruption), create jobs for its youth, reduce poverty and improve the purchasing power of the citizens.