According to Muhammad Nami, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, entrepreneurship and industrial hubs spread across the federation are critical to Nigeria’s economic success.
According to a statement yesterday by Mr. Johannes Wojuola, Nami’s Special Assistant (Media & Communications), the implementation of the model will lead to a general restructuring of the economy.
In his message of goodwill to the country’s citizens on the occasion of the 62nd Independence Day anniversary, Nami urged Nigerians to invest in the development of entrepreneurship and industrialization centers as they hold the “key to unlocking the country’s vast economic potential”.
He urged state governments to emulate the Ondo State Entrepreneur Village, established to nurture and harvest talent for the state’s industrialization.
The Chair called on other state governments to set up similar hubs in their states to harness the energies of young Nigerians productively.
He said: “Nigeria is a country of limitless potential. We are resilient and talented people and what these young Nigerians need is an enabling environment to thrive.
“A good starting point is to set up centers for entrepreneurship and industry in every state in the country. This would set off a chain reaction that would turn the tide of the country and unlock the potential of our vast young and skilled population.”
Mr. Nami urged the various state governments to adopt and use this model as a strategy to address unemployment and insecurity issues while boosting economic activity in their states.
“The model will get young people off the streets and into productive jobs.
“You will be surprised how many jobs will be created. Many people’s lives would be changed, and an abundance of economic activity would be ignited in unprecedented ways in the nooks and crannies of our country. Nigeria has what it takes to lead the world and this is one possible path,” Nami said.
The FIRS chief also urged Nigerians to see themselves as drivers of the country’s development through patriotic behavior such as paying taxes.
He said: “I firmly believe that each of us has a role to play in building the Nigeria of our dreams.
“But we can only achieve this by being patriotic and fulfilling the civic obligations expected of us, such as respecting law and order, paying our taxes and being loyal to our country.”
