Former President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is slated to participate in the Pre-Summit Conference for the inaugural Pan-Ijaw Economic Summit 2024.
This significant event is scheduled for October 17-18 in Bayelsa and will serve as a precursor to the main summit, which will occur from December 3-5 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Prof. Steve Azaiki, the Principal Convener of the initiative, announced on Wednesday that governors from Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Delta, and Niger, among other distinguished guests, are also expected to attend.
The conference’s theme is “Environmental Regeneration and Economic Sustainability.” Azaiki noted that the event is organized by the Azaiki Foundation in collaboration with the Ijaw National Congress (INC), with participation from Ijaw communities in Canada, Germany, France, Australia, and beyond.
Former Bayelsa Governor Sen. Seriake Dickson will chair the Opening Ceremony.
Azaiki emphasized that the summit represents a pioneering effort aimed at addressing the infrastructural, developmental, and historical environmental issues faced by the Ijaw people in Nigeria.
The conference will gather industry experts, international partners, academic leaders, policymakers, and community representatives, with the goal of fostering innovative solutions that promote a sustainable and prosperous future for the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
Additionally, the summit aims to create a platform for dialogue and strategic engagement to tackle various socio-economic challenges confronting the Ijaw people, including poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation. It seeks to stimulate economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, ensuring the Ijaw community’s active participation in the Blue Economy, to which they have a deep natural connection.
Azaiki highlighted that the conference will focus on unlocking the potential of the Marine and Blue Economy in Ijawland and the Niger Delta, exploring avenues for environmental regeneration and economic sustainability.
Key areas of discussion will include transforming the Niger Delta coastline into a tourism destination, agricultural development in Ijawland, sustainable wetland management, and infrastructure advancement. The conference will also address how to enhance the economic prospects for youth, transportation development in Ijawland and the Niger Delta, as well as recalibrating gender inclusivity, security, and women’s rights.
