The maiden edition of the OpenLife Annual Summit, held on August 22, 2024, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together key stakeholders to address Nigeria’s pressing security issues and their impact on economic growth. The summit, themed “Creating an Enabling Environment for Economic Growth Through Strategic Tackling of Insecurity,” saw contributions from prominent figures across politics, banking, academia, and security organizations.
The event opened with a welcome address from Idumonza Isidahomhen, the publisher of OpenLife magazine and convener of the summit. Isidahomhen underscored the importance of the summit, expressing a firm commitment to ensuring that the recommendations made would not be forgotten. “The outcome of this summit will not be one of those that end up in the trash cans,” he assured. He added that a communique summarizing the summit’s discussions would be sent to key government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun, to influence policy formulation.
Senator Akin Odunsi, who chaired the event, highlighted the timeliness of the summit amidst Nigeria’s escalating security challenges. He emphasized the need for continuous dialogue and action to address these issues, expressing optimism that the summit’s deliberations would contribute valuable insights to the government. “Our discussions and the recommendations from this summit will help our country manage and subdue the issue of insecurity,” Odunsi stated.
The summit featured a keynote lecture by Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine of Lagos State University, who presented a detailed analysis of the nexus between insecurity and Nigeria’s struggling economy. He noted that insecurity has crippled food production, undermined oil revenues due to theft, and led to widespread job insecurity, contributing to the nation’s economic decline. “The insecurity in Nigeria directly affects the productive forces, hence, the comatose nature of the national economy,” Akhaine remarked. He called for a patriotic leadership and a new social force committed to national security values to address these challenges.
Representing the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Apapa Area Command Comptroller, Mr. Babatunde Olomu discussed Customs’ role in supporting economic diversification. He outlined several initiatives aimed at facilitating trade and combating smuggling, including the adoption of advanced technology like non-intrusive inspection to enhance Customs operations.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, represented by Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, focused on maritime security challenges, which he identified as significant obstacles to economic growth. Hassan highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s efforts to combat these challenges through the implementation of a Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy and the deployment of advanced Maritime Domain Awareness facilities. He also detailed the successes of Operation Delta Sanity, which has significantly reduced crude oil theft and increased daily oil production.
The summit concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of collaboration between various sectors to tackle Nigeria’s security issues. Rear Admiral Hassan assured attendees of the Navy’s continued dedication to maintaining secure waters, which are crucial for economic activities and national development.
The OpenLife Summit has set the stage for ongoing dialogue and action, with participants and organizers alike committed to ensuring that the recommendations made lead to tangible improvements in Nigeria’s security and economic landscape.
