PREAMBLE
The Chartered Institute of Development Studies and Administration of Nigeria (CIDSAN) held its National Conference and Induction of New members on the 12th-14th November,2024 at Top Rank Hotels Galaxy, Utako,Abuja. The conference was well attended by people from all works of life including the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs.A total of 58 new members were inducted into the institute in various membership categories. Worried by the persistent development failures in the country and the lack of skilled development experts that are urgently needed to drive the required developmental needs of the country, the theme: “Effective and Sustainable Development in an Emerging Economy; The Nigerian Experience” was adopted by the Institute. The Institute used the opportunity to invite Nigerians to joinit in changing the old and ugly narrative in its efforts to entrench the culture of proper learning needed to achieve the developmental needs of Nigeria.
After an exhaustive discussion of the various papers presented and detailed deliberations on the state of affairs of the country and its developmental setbacks, the conference rose with the following observations that:
(1) There is a dearth of knowledgeable professionals or experts in Development Studies and Administrationthat will help immensely in training and re-training citizens;
(2) Poor management skills, coordination, and harmonization of development programmes and policies in the country over the years, have led to stunted development of the country in various facets, despite huge resources expanded on these programmes;
(3) Lack of credible leadership with development mindset, capacity and courage to drive purposeful and sustainable development is responsible for the painful condition of the country;
(4) Lack of continuity in government policies, programmes, effective and efficient project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are parts of the reasons for development failures in Nigeria;
(5) Poverty which is an enemy of man has become very pervasive in the country and it is a reflection of system failure due to the country’s inability to meet the basic needs of her citizens;
(6) The Political class has not demonstrated commitment to the growth and development of the country’s national assets nor even effectively and efficiently maintain the ones available in the country;
(7) Lack of visible partnerships between the country’s leadership and the citizens in terms of constructive input in policy formulation that willguarantee sustainable development goals and global best practices;
(8) Corruption has ascended monumental, endemic and pervasive heights that it may kill Nigeria if urgent steps are not taken to kill it in order for growth and development to be experienced in the country;
(9) Other professional bodies have robust roles to play in the growth and development crisesrocking the country, therefore, it is in the general interest of all to sustain advocacy for sound practical knowledge in various fields of the nation’s economic endeavours, rather than keeping quiet;
(10) Policy formulators do not involve development experts and other critical stakeholders in the policy formulation process, and this has become inimical to the realization of the country’s growth and developmental objectives.
In order to address the challenges and concerns identified above, the participants resolved andunanimously called on all Nigerians, especially the Nigerian government and the political class to as matter of necessity ensure the following:
(1) That Nigerian Government and other corporate bodies should collaborate in training and re-training of Nigerians in development studies and its allied skills that will guarantee the much needed change in the affairs of the country;
(2) The Nigerian Government should learn to adopt meritocracy in its leadership selection process that will guarantee policy consistency, continuity in governance and the alleviation/eradication of poverty in the country;
(3) That the Political Class should put the nation first and aggressively partner with the citizens to bring about growth and development of the country, bearing in mind that there is no other nation state to call their own;
(4) That corruption must be fought with all the available strategies. All the corruption fighting agencies should be given all the necessary freedom/independence to adopt every measure to eradicate it. Specifically, Special Corruption Courts (SCC) should be established to handle cases of corruption only in the country;
(5) That the Nigerian Government, Nigerian citizens and theprofessional bodies MUST work together to address the growth and development crisesin the country,to guarantee sustainable advocacy for sound practical knowledge in various fields of the nation’s economic endeavours;
(6) That Policy formulators MUST involve development experts and other critical stakeholders in the policy formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring and evaluationprocesses in order torealize of the country’s growth and developmental objectives.
CONCLUSION
The Stakeholders and participants commended CIDSAN in coming up with this Institute and enjoined individuals, corporate bodies and the government at national, state and local government levels to identify with this body to salvage the countryand put it on the right part to posterity.