J9C to hold lecture on business and policy strategy on January 9

By Abubakar Yunusa

The January 9th Collective (J9C), a socio-cultural group, has announced its annual public lecture on nation-building will hold on January 9.

J9C, established on January 9, 2012, by a group of friends and colleague, is committed to promoting good governance, socio-economic development, and exploring the role of values in Nigeria’s past, present, and future.

In a statement recently ,Olumide Iyanda, the association’s publicity secretary, said the 13th anniversary lecture, holding at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, will focus on business and policy strategy in Nigeria.

Iyanda said the theme of the lecture is ‘Business and policy strategy: Examining the role of reform in enhancing the ease of doing business in Nigeria’.

He said the lecture will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and business executives to discuss essential reforms needed to foster sustainable economic growth and improve Nigeria’s business environment.

In the statement, Kingsley James, J9C captain, said the anniversary lecture is open to business leaders, policymakers, academics, and interested members of the public.

“It promises to provide actionable insights for stakeholders across various sectors. That is why we have chosen speakers who are accomplished economists, policy strategists, financial analysts, entrepreneurs and advocates for SME growth,” James said.

“Without doubt, the daring reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu from the moment he was sworn in on May 29, 2023, have had far-reaching effects on Nigerians irrespective of what sections they belong to.

“As a collective we believe in the transformative power of quality engagements and will continue to live up to our mission of putting Nigeria first.”

Iyanda said the event will be chaired by Solomon Onafowokan, chairman of Coleman Wires & Cables, Chellarams Plc, and Artee Industries Ltd, while Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), will deliver the keynote address.

“Speakers and special guests at past lectures include Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; former Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State; former Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje; former executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, and Alara of Ilara-Epe, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo,” Iyanda said.

“Others include Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal; Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance, Akin Oyebode; Media Proprietor and Producer, Funmi Iyanda; Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Dele Momodu; Director, Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Prof Anthony Kila, Founder, LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli; Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Yemi Adamolekun, and theatre director and journalist, Ben Tomoloju.”

Iyanda said the panel of experts are Adedeji Popoola, managing director of Fina Trust Microfinance Bank; Toki Mabogunje, vice-chair, Africa ICC World Chamber Federation; and Ugo Obi-Chukwu, founder of Nairametrics.“I have a receipt here, when I ate food, I noticed that the VAT was 15 per cent. But today, Saudi Arabia is turning into a wonderland, an amazement in investment; money is flowing,” said Bagudu.