Posted Fri, Apr 25, 2025 4:51 PM

NESG Hosts Inaugural Edition of The Nigerian Hamilton Project in Enugu: Sparking a National Dialogue on Development as Attitude

L-R: Dr. Ben Nwosu – Director, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu campus, Dr. Chukwuma Agu, Former Economic Adviser to the Governor of Abia State / Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu campus); Chief Loretta Aniagolu, Chairman, FIT Group of Companies, Prof Osita Ogbu, Professor of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka & Co-Chair, NESG National Advisory Council, Ms Chimaza Okorie, Public Policy Analyst & Moderator, Dr. Emeka Urama, Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Enugu State Government and Mr Nnanna Ude, Board Member, NESG. 

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) successfully launched the first edition of The Nigerian Hamilton Project: A National Dialogue Series on Development as Attitude in Enugu, ushering in a fresh wave of national reflection on leadership, governance, and inclusive growth. Held on Thursday, April 24th, 2025 the event brought together thought leaders, academics, public officials, and private sector stakeholders for a rich and inspiring conversation on Nigeria’s development path.

The inaugural dialogue featured a powerful fireside chat with renowned economist and thought leader, Professor Osita Ogbu, followed by an interactive panel discussion, audience Q&A, and a compelling book signing session. The event created a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas on the values, principles, and leadership attitudes required to drive real and inclusive national development.

Addressing attendees, the Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Enugu State, Dr. Emeka Urama, underscored the centrality of social cohesion in Nigeria’s development journey. “Sustainable economic growth cannot thrive without social cohesion. When citizens feel excluded or marginalized, it breeds discontent and resistance to development efforts,” he noted. “To achieve lasting economic stability, we must prioritize national cohesion as a foundational pillar of our development agenda.”

Dr. Urama further emphasized the critical role of leadership and inclusive governance in fostering unity stating that social cohesion must be at the heart of every development plan. Research shows that inclusive and selfless leadership is essential to building trust and unity within society. He added that beyond vision statements, the government must actively create an enabling environment for private sector investment by ensuring security, improving infrastructure, fostering human capital, and addressing social issues, noting that these are the real drivers of investor confidence and sustainable development.

On his part, the Director of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus) Dr. Ben Nwosu, stressed that leadership must be measured by impact, not rhetoric. “In social sciences, leadership is judged not by words, but by actions. True commitment is shown in how much we invest in education, healthcare, and improving lives. Unfortunately, what we often hear today are slogans—not a real development philosophy,” he stated.

Adding a private sector perspective, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, Chairman of the FIT Group of Companies, called on policymakers to focus on solutions that truly change lives. She stated that the book should serve as a go-to guide for every policymaker. “At the heart of development is the people—measured by the jobs we create and the lives we improve. True development rests on two foundational pillars: agriculture and housing. Yet, we often equate development with infrastructure like roads, rather than focusing on sustainable job creation,” she stated.

Speaking on Nigeria’s leadership mindset, Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and former Economic Adviser to the Abia State Government, Dr. Chukwuma Agu, noted that Nigeria’s core development challenge lies in a flawed leadership philosophy. “Our leaders behave like ‘rich kids,’ believing our natural resources make us wealthy. This mindset ignores the harsh reality of widespread poverty.” He also cautioned against relying on international financial institutions for accurate economic insights, noting that they often fail to reflect on-the-ground realities or Nigeria’s economic truth.

Dr. Agu concluded by calling for a more inclusive growth model where the country reinvests in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing that bring people into the workforce as opposed to current leading sectors—oil, telecom, finance—that deliver profits but few jobs.

The Nigerian Hamilton Project National Dialogue Series continues its journey of thought leadership and civic engagement with the Lagos edition, scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos. Building on the momentum from the successful Enugu dialogue, this edition aims to further deepen conversations around leadership, governance, and national development.

Link to register - https://www.nesgroup.org/events/development-as-attitude--a-national-dialogue-series--lagos-

About The Nigerian Hamilton Project

An initiative of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), The Nigerian Hamilton Project is a national dialogue series designed to reframe development as a collective mindset and a national value system. The project aims to inspire citizens, influence policy, and drive attitudinal change across all levels of leadership.