The recent civil ENDSARS protests and subsequent ‘lootings’ and ‘vandalization’ in major cities across Nigeria highlighted different dimensions of insecurity in the country. Some persons have also argued about poor funding and inadequate training of security agencies. It is essential to underscore that despite increasing appropriation for security in national and state budgets over the years, insecurity remains very high in Nigeria. For example, over the last decades, less than 3% of the 2020 national budget is being earmarked for security – besides state & local government security budgets. Emotions were high during the ENDSARS saga because many are passionate to see a Nigeria where peace, security and justice reigns.

Against the above background, the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) of Covenant University is coming up to build on the outstanding successes of the 1st (February 2019) and 2nd (March 2020) editions of CEPDeR’s National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion for 2021. Thus, CEPDeR’s 2021 National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion is themed ‘National Budgeting, Security Issues and Sustainable Development in Nigeria’

Date: Thursday, 25^th February 2021

Time: 9.30 am

Venue: CUCRID Auditorium, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Meet Our Speakers

We are drawing the Speakers/Panellists from agencies of government, private sector, and academia. Speakers and Panellists expected to include:

ZINAB SHAMSUNA AHMED

Her excellency Zinab Shamsuna Ahmed was appointed as Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, on the 21^stAugust 2019. She rose from being an immediate past executive secretary and national coordinator of the

Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and an honorable member of the last two NEITI boards, having worked in the NEITI and global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

GENERAL MARTIN LUTHER AGWAI (Rtd)

He was commissioned in1972. He was appointed as Chief of Training and Operations officer of the Nigerian Armed Force and Director of Military Training at the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna. He added another feather to his cap, as the Nigerian Military Adviser at Harare, covering entire Southern Africa between 1993-1996. He was a Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at the Command and Staff College Jaji-Kaduna, Nigeria.

MRS FAVOUR FEMI-OYEWOLE

A graduate of Computer Science (BSc) Ogun State University, a two Master’s Degree graduate in MSc Computer Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Information Security at the University of Liverpool, UK, respectively. She has scaled her experience in managing all aspects of information technology with knowledge in Enterprise IT Security, Information Technology, IT Governance, Information Security best practices, Cybersecurity, Business Continuity, and Risk Management, especially in dynamic demanding large scale environments, for over 20 years.

Ms. CHIOMA AGWUEGBO

Ms Chioma Agwuegbo Is the current Executive Director at TechHerNG demystifies technology for women and applies tech solutions towards societal problems, especially as they affect women. She chaperon’s young first-time women politicians, co-creates solutions for sexual and gender-based violence and curates learning sessions on digital security and circumvention.

Expectations of the 2021 Roundtable and Panel Discussion

Proposing a National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion with the theme ‘‘National Budgeting, Security Issues and Sustainable Development in Nigeria’ is timely. CEPDeR’s 2021 NBR is expected to identify and propose sustainable solutions to the national problem of insecurity. It enlarges the scope of budget discussions by incorporating the issue of national security for sustainable development, as well as, highlighting the perspective of youth, media and cybersecurity. It will provide fresh insights and further enlighten not only Nigerian society but those of other countries, especially in the African continent. As such, presentations by speakers and subsequent panel discussions will address sub-themes such as:

Effective Budgeting for National Security;
The Role of National Assembly in Effective Budgeting for National Security;
Budgeting, Fiscal Federalism and Social Security; and
Youth, Social Media and Cybersecurity

Success Story of Previous National Roundtable and Panel Discussions

CEPDeR’s NBR 2020 was held on 20^th March with the theme ‘The Art of National Budgeting and Nigeria’s Debt Profile: Sectoral & Demographic Implications’, with experts from the academia, government agencies and private sector in attendance. After the 2019 edition of CEPDeR’s National Budget Roundtable (NBR), which stressed the need for early passage of the budget, the national budget passed by the National Assembly in December, before the commencement of the 2020 fiscal year. Further details and the policy brief are online at CEPDER’s website at http://cepder.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/reports/

Registration

The event is FREE but interested participant should register ahead of time to get their seats confirmed before they can attend.

Partnership, Exhibition and Enquiries

For Corporate Participation and Exhibition, enquiries should be made using the details below:

Email: cepder@covenantuniversity.edu.ng or call: 08181017596

You can also contact

Obindah Gershon, PhD

Ag-Chair, CEPDeR,

08186456785; obindah.gershon@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

Evans S. Osabuohien, Ph.D

Professor of Economics & Pioneer Chair, CEPDeR,

08028858727; evans.osabuohien@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

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