President Bola Tinubu has said that Africa as a continent is not in a begging mode and should not be regarded as such.
The president who received a delegation from ENI, an international energy company on Friday, July 19, 2024, said Africa is in an accelerated mode to compete with the rest of the world.
Tinubu said, “Africa is not in a begging mode but in an accelerated mode to compete and take its place with the rest of the world.”
Commending the company for its newly proposed investment in Nigeria, President Tinubu assured that the reforms mapped out and followed judiciously by his administration would make Nigeria competitive.
According to the president, his administration’s reforms would reposition Nigeria’s economy by exploring the possibilities of innovative thinking, strategic planning, new technology and research into best practices.
“Welcome back after many years. Nigeria has improved and I am glad that you noted that we are making changes, not because of anything else but because of a very long-term vision on our investment strategy.
“We are determined to champion changes or take ourselves ahead of those changes and make reform a priority.
“We count on your efforts and we see the effects of your belief in our partnership; not for exploitation but for investable development,” the president said.
He further commended the company’s confidence in re-investing in Nigeria while urging the delegation to ensure that their investment strategy has a timeline that could serve as a stimulant for the rest of the world who are still doubtful about Africa.
He said, “We are open; we are ready. We are working hard on infrastructural development and to make arable land available for planting.
“And we are ready to partner with you in every aspect of that and innovative research.”
In his address, ENI’s Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi said the energy company would invest more in the country, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“First of all, there are lots of reasons to thank you. The first is that after nine years, you allowed me to come back to my country. It is quite emotional.
“Secondly, not only because you found time to stay with us, but especially because you promoted a new era for Nigeria.
“You want us to attract investment, and I think you are following the right track with your leadership,” Mr Descalzi said.
He assured that his company would return to Nigeria to disabuse the assumption in Europe that everybody was leaving Nigeria.
“We want to be the champion of this new era. We want to stay close to you to learn and to help you in your endeavour and renew our efforts to create again a new Nigeria for everybody,” he added.
