NESG dumps local entrepreneurs, imports plaques from China

Many observers at the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit, which ended at the weekend, were shocked when it was discovered that the plaques that were presented to awardees at the event were imported from China.Ironically, the theme of this year's economic summit was: 'Attracting Foreign Direct Investment through Global Partnership.'Observers were stunned that the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), with the objectives to promote public private partnership and the local economy could dump local entrepreneurs and expend several millions of dollars to import the plaques, thereby boosting the Chinese economy.Apart from this, the NESG also preferred foreign TV station in the live coverage of the presidential dialogue instead of patronising Nigerian TV stations.It was also gathered that the documentary aired at the event, though packaged by a Nigerian, was taken to London for post editing.Responding to these allegations, the Director-General of NESG, Mr Frank Nweke (Jnr), said that NESG picked the South Africa owned CBC ahead of other TV stations in Nigeria because the estimate given by the foreign station was far lower than the ones by AIT and others.On the documentary, Mr Nweke said the producer of the documentary took it to London for post production in order to ensure high quality production.Offering no excuse on the imported plaques, the NESG DG said that in future, the organisation would look towards the direction of local entrepreneurs to procure the plaques.Earlier, while presenting the recommendation of the summit, the NESG chairman, Mr Foluso Philips, acknowledged the quality of sector roadmaps presented by the Power, Agriculture, Gas, ICT, Solid Minerals and Transport ministries.
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