By Kayode Tokede
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to host the 2021 edition of Budget Seminar virtually on Thursday.
The theme of the event is “Financing Nigeria’s Budget and Infrastructure Deficits through the Capital Market.”
Expected as Guest of Honour at the event is the Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.
The Seminar presenter is Dr. Afolabi Olowookere, Head Economic Research of the SEC while the Moderators are Mr. Ben Akabueze; DG Budget Office of the Federation and Mr. Bolaji Balogun; CEO Chapel Hill Denham Limited
Panelists at the event include H.E. Babatunde Fashola, SAN; Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Aisha Dahir-Umar; DG, National Pension Commission, Patience Oniha; DG, Debt Management Office, Uche Orji; MD/CEO, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Chidi Izuwah DG Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission and Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, University of Ibadan.
Other Panelists are Oscar Onyema; MD/CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Samaila Zubairu; President/CEO, African Finance Corporation, Olumide Oyetan; MD/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Pensions Managers, Chinua Azubike; MD/CEO, InfraCredit and Prof. Bright Eregha, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos
The seminar, the Fifth of its kind by the SEC, will bring together experts with professional, policy and academic background in order to deliberate extensively on how the capital market can aid the flow of private capital to address Nigeria’s budget and infrastructure deficits in a sustainable manner.
The Seminar will assemble subject matter and industry experts from public and private sectors to critically evaluate the relevant issues and proffer implementable solutions.
The Commission’s Budget Seminar Series has been established as a forum for evaluating the connection between the Nigerian capital market and the annual Federal Government Budget. A major aim is to identify how the capital market can contribute to and in turn benefit from the budget and its implementation.
The Commission as the host of this event, gathers subject matter experts with incisive knowledge and experience on various economic activities to deliberate extensively, with the aim of enlightening participants on the area of focus for the seminar. In addition to the learning of the day, which will equip participants, a communique will be drafted and forwarded as the capital market inputs to the appropriate government and private institutions.