A concerned group known as CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company has scheduled to host an International Conference on Ajaokuta Steel Company, virtually on April 16, from 11:00am.
A statement by the National Coordinator of the Group, Mohammed Bougei Attah, said that the theme of the conference would be: “Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era: A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?” …and is coming at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s economic and industrial trajectory.
He said that the conference will seek to interrogate the status, prospects and political will surrounding the revival of the long-abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex, widely regarded as the backbone of Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
“The conference will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including engineers, academics, labour leaders, international consultants, civil society actors and policy influencers from Nigeria and across the globe—particularly from the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, Belgium, and The Gambia.
“This broad participation underscores the global significance of Ajaokuta and its potential role in positioning Nigeria as a competitive industrial hub.”
Mohammed Bougei Attah said that the conference would focus on reigniting national discourse on the strategic importance of Ajaokuta Steel Company, assessing the commitment of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu toward its revival and providing a platform for evidence-based policy recommendations.
He said that it would also aim to strengthen civic advocacy for transparency, accountability and sustainable industrial development and mobilize both domestic and international support for actionable reforms
According to the Mohammed Bougei Attah, the event will feature the following:
Opening remarks by Engr. Abdallah Sani of SOYUNIK Worldwide, select group of Engineers trained under the Nigeria-Russia Partnership, a conference briefing him as the National Coordinator.and goodwill messages from notable stakeholders, including labour representatives, international business leaders, and academia.
The coordinator said that there would be a keynote address by Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, Visiting Fellow at The Open University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom and former staff of the African Development Bank, ADB.
He added that there would also be a high-level panel discussion with experts in engineering, trade, civil society, and human rights as well as interactive sessions for public engagement and contributions and presentation of a Conference Communiqué, outlining key resolutions and advocacy demands
He recalled that for decades, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has symbolized both Nigeria’s industrial ambition and governance challenges.
“As the nation grapples with economic diversification, unemployment, and infrastructure deficits, the question remains whether Ajaokuta will finally be revived or continue as a missed opportunity.
“This conference represents a decisive moment for civil society and stakeholders to demand clarity, commitment, and concrete action from government and partners.
The coordinator said that the CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company is a non-partisan alliance of civil society organisations committed to advocating for the revitalisation of Ajaokuta Steel Complex as a catalyst for national development, job creation, and economic transformation since 2019.
