Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has called for a patriotic reawakening and renewed commitment to policy consistency as catalysts for rebuilding Nigeria’s industrial base and achieving sustainable growth.
Speaking at the 4th Annual Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN) in Abuja, themed “Boosting Nigeria’s Productive Capacity for National Growth and Self-Reliance: The Role of Leadership, Industry, and Innovation in Policy Implementation,” Anyim said Nigeria must rediscover the values that once powered its early industrial drive.
He lamented that disunity, corruption, and inconsistent policies dismantled the industrial structures established between the First National Development Plan (1962–1968) and the Indigenization Decree of 1977, which once made Bompai, Kakuri, Onitsha, Aba, and Ikeja vibrant industrial hubs.
“Our early industrial efforts collapsed not for lack of understanding of their value but because the coups of 1966 destroyed our sense of nationalism, replacing patriotism with ethnicity and nepotism,” he said.
Anyim noted that the oil boom of the 1970s and Nigeria’s later embrace of unrestrained trade liberalization further weakened local industries and turned the country into a dumping ground for foreign products.
“If we must rebuild, we must protect our markets, support our industries, and renew our national spirit,” he urged. “There is no magic bullet—but with unity, sacrifice, and shared resolve, we can rebuild just as China, Singapore, and Vietnam did.”
Representing Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, former Sokoto Governor and Senator for Sokoto North, Hon. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Labour and Employment, commended the Forum’s transformation into a formidable policy platform.
“In 1999, we tried to form this body but could not. Today, it has matured into an influential voice shaping national dialogue,” he said, pledging to champion legislation that will strengthen subnational growth.
FFDGN National Chairman, Dr. Chris Alozie Akomas, described the conference as a “call to action” for Nigerians to take ownership of the nation’s development journey.
“Nation-building is not a sprint but a long relay,” Akomas said. “Our challenge is not the absence of potential, but the failure to translate it into real progress.”
The Forum’s Director General, Dr. Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, said the platform has evolved into a credible hub for pragmatic collaboration among leaders, innovators, and policymakers to drive economic diversification and innovation-led growth.
In his goodwill message, Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Michal Cygan, hailed Poland’s partnership with the Forum as a symbol of shared aspiration for progress.
“Poland has recorded nearly four decades of uninterrupted economic growth,” Cygan said. “We are proud to share our experience with Nigeria as it pursues the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to deepen cooperation in trade, innovation, and capacity building to boost Nigeria’s productivity.
The gathering drew former and serving public officials, diplomats, scholars, and business leaders, all united in the belief that patriotism, innovation, and visionary leadership hold the key to rebuilding Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.
As the Forum’s influence continues to grow, it is positioning itself as a rallying point for experience-driven leadership and practical policy engagement aimed at transforming Nigeria’s potential into productive power.