Coronavirus: Time for Nigeria to refocus, grow economy, says Varsity Don

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A Professor of Economics, University of Benin, Professor Mercy Ada Aniyiwe has said that Covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown that it was time Nigeria be focused, and as well grow the nation’s economy through viable application of the needed micro policies, restructuring and diversification.
Professor Anyinwe who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Monday, said that Nigerians should work harder to circumvent economic recession and crisis engendered by the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, and sympathized with Nigerians on losses so far recorded, but expressed optimism on the possibility of Nigeria’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 shock.
She said: “ this is the time to learn our lessons, that nowhere else is better than home: that as you make your bed so you will lie on it : that self-reliance lie better than multiple foreign aids: that diversification is better than putting all your eggs in one basket: that dependence on domestic products: and that saving for the raining day should be a daily practice, to covert the impending Covid-19 economic crisis into economic growth, all Nigerians should take responsibility for their health: learn to save now and invest sooner: learn to manufacture goods and to supply other Countries: learn to patronize home made goods above any other, and be ready to be more productive than ever before as soon as lockdown is lifted, government should concentrate on mass health and mass welfare without which optimism productivity cannot be experienced, guided massive injection of funds into health, education, energy, agriculture, industries and private sector are recommended.”
The Varsity Don, however, commended the Federal Government: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC) , the Governors of Delta and Edo States, and the states ministries of health, workers in Delta and Edo States on measures put in place to curtail the spread of the deadly disease and its impact, adding that” in the ongoing lockdown, I appeal to our leaders to seek the advice of experts in health, social economic growth and development, and I am optimistic that we shall scale through these hard times, but Nigerians must refocus and grow their own economy through restructuring, diversification move towards the vision of viable economic growth.”
She said that Nigeria will push its Economic Pendulum towards the direction of growth if the leaders assemble seasoned team of economists, researchers , scientists and other critical stakeholders and plan for a better future as necessity is the mother of invention.”