Delegates from advertising and public relations and 14 other professional bodies group (PBG) to the national conference which ended on August 17 want Abuja to organise the confab every 10 years.
From left: National Conference Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, Oke, Aina, and Oladele.
A proposal sent to President Goodluck Jonathan by 2014 National Conference PBG Chairman, Segun Aina, canvassed a confab every decade to help evolve a better and more inclusive society in which everyone is a proud and committed stakeholder.
“This will remove the “now-or-never” syndrome that characterises discussions at conferences as issues not resolved at a particular conference can be reconsidered at a future conference,” Aina said.
“Institutionalisation of the Nigerian National Conference will provide a framework for securing systematic evolution of better and more inclusive Nigerian society.”
Former President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Bunmi Oke, said PBG proposed “that the national conference be convened by the President at 10-year intervals. To articulate the terms of reference of the national conference, a National Conference Advisory Committee should be set up.”
According to her, each national conference should
• Review the implementation of the recommendations of previous conferences, similar to what the 2012 Belgore Committee did.
• Review the impact of implemented recommendations, in order to sustain, strengthen or reconsider them, with regard to the state of the nation and the world at large, and identify and articulate new challenges and opportunities and consider other pertinent matters.
Oke said the advisory committee should make recommendations to respond to new challenges and opportunities meant to consolidate achievements.
Aina stressed that “it is therefore important that governments at all levels should seek the input and contributions of these bodies (PBG) on issues related to their areas of specialisation and generally issues of efficient, effective, equitable and inclusive national development.”
Jonathan has led the way in this regard, he added, and urged leaders at state and council levels as well as ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to do the same as they too need to help realise national aspirations.
PBG recommended exclusive reliance on Nigerian registered professionals in order to reduce capital flight and security risks posed by foreign professionals in executing major projects.
The 16 PBG and their delegates to the national conference included the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (Segun Aina), Nigerian Economic Society (Olu Ajakaiye), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (Kola Bajomo), Nigerian Institute of Architects (Waheed Brimmo).
Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (Emeka Eleh), Nigerian Medical Association (Osahon Enabulele), Nigerian Society of Engineers (Adefemi Kila), Nigerian Academy of Engineers (Vincent Maduka), Historical Society of Nigeria (Yakubu Ochefu), AAAN (Bunmi Oke).
Others are Federation of International Women Lawyers (Ezinwa Okoroafor and Hauwa Shekarau), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Rotimi Oladele), Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (Johnson Oluata), Nigerian Institute of Management (Nelson Uwaga), and Nigerian Environmental Society (Olu Wai-Ogosu).