DE-INDUSTRIALISATION OF THE NORTHERN NIG. (LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER CONFERENCE)

[Dan-Borno]

Today 4th and tomorrow 5th, the Leadership Newspaper will
be hosting an international conference tagged "De-Industrialization
of the Northern Nigeria - A way out" to be attended by highly
placed northern elites, politicians, tradition institution and
business community.  The President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua
is expected to also grace the occasion in company of all the
19 Northern Governors.

While at the Conference issues that relates to the de-industrialization
of the north is expected to top the agenda.  De-Industrialization
could mean among other things a process of social and economic
change caused by the removal or reduction of industrial (capacity or activity)
in a country or region, especially heavy industry or manufacturing industry.
If the above defnition is what this conference is expected to find
a way out to north, i think it is better they dont waste time and money.
However, if the Leadership Newspaper Company (Group) is out to
extort money from the President and the 19 Northern Governors, i think
it is not a bad idea organising such a conference.

Before now, Daily Trust Newspapers and other northern communication
outfits have organised series of lectures/seminars/conference, all in the
name of how the north should be revamped industrially, however, at the
end of the forum or conferences not a single Governor or northern business
giant or elite will lead a follow-up to the issues raised, discussed and solutions
proferred.  From my understanding, it is just a way communication outfits
gather money, because each northern Governor will love to attend and
at the end enormous amount of money will be dash out to the organising
company either in form of cash or pledge, while the likes of Sam will do a
follow up to various Government Houses to threaten those who did not
redeem their pledges with his strong grammars articles.

Nevertheless, i am not an enemy of the north, and as a going person who
always looks forward for a better northern nigeria, various problems
bedevilling the northern nigeria are glaringly crystal and clear and dont
need any damn conference to address them.  This, both the newspaper
company and the northern retrogressive elements knows. 

Bank of the North is a popular name in the northern region, and from what
i come to understand the only strong financial institution that is being
backed by the 19 northern states.  During this bank consolidations and
whatever, despite their constant meeting with northern investors, the
bank couldnt meet the CBN's criteria thus it merger as Unity Bank.

I was duly informed by a close senior in Kano, that before now, Sharada
Industrial Area can boast of over 1000 industries of different types.  what
is the situation now?

If the northern governors and the northern business community can not
bring back to life NNDC in Kaduna despite cries and hues, i doubt much if
our hope of bringing the north back to be industrialised through a long
delivered papers and speeches in a conference can ever bring this hope
back.

[gogannaka]

Power generation so far remains the greatest hindrance to the industrialization of Nigeria.
We wait to see what will happen when the first gas pipeline reaches the north.
I doubt if reviving NNDC will bring any form of industrialization.

Industrialization is achieved more from private sector participation than Govt.

I read with amazement how Theophilus Danjuma rejected an offer of becoming the Leader of the ACF.His reason being that his generation has failed Nigeria.