By Victor Bieni
ASABA- A Professor of Economics, University of Benin and Founder/Chief Executive Director, Centre For Human Development And Educational Research, Professor Mercy Ada Anyiwe has said that this period of the on-going global Covid-19 Pandemic is a time for Nigeria to refocus, look inwards and grow its Economy through viable applications of the needed micro and macroeconomic policies, restructuring and diversification.
Professor Anyiwe disclosed this to our reporter while fielding questions from some group of Journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital on what Nigerians should do to circumvent Economic recession or crisis engendered by the on-going global Coronavirus pandemic.
First, she commiserated with Nigerians on losses so far recorded, but showed optimism on the possibility of Nigeria’s economic recovery from the COVID’19 shock.
According to her, “this is the time to learn our lessons: that nowhere else is better than home; that as you make your bed so you will lie on it; that self-reliance is better than multiple foreign aids; that diversification is better than putting all your eggs in one basket; that dependence on domestic products is better than absolute reliance on foreign products; and that saving for the raining day should be a daily practice.
She said: “To convert the impending COVID’19 economic crisis into economic growth all Nigerians should one, take responsibility for their health; learn to save now and invest sooner; learn to manufacture goods and to supply other countries; learn to patronize home-made goods above any other; and be ready to be more productive than ever before as soon as the lockdown is lifted”.
The government should concentrate on mass health and mass welfare without which optimum productivity cannot be realized and growth in wealth cannot be experienced. Guided massive injection of funds into health, education, energy, agriculture, industry and private sectors is recommended.”
The University Lecturer Commended the Nigerian Federal Government (FGN); Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), the Governors of Delta and Edo States, and the States Ministries of Health, Health Workers in Delta and Edo States on the palliative measures put in place to curtail the spread of the deadly global pandemic disease and its impacts.
In her words: “In the ongoing lockdown I appealed to Nigerian Leaders to seek the advice of experts in health, socio-economic growth and development. I am very optimistic that we shall scale through this hard times, but Nigerians must refocus and grow their own economy through restructuring, diversification and move towards the vision of viable Economic Growth”.
Professor Anyiwe, stated that Nigeria will push its Economic pendulum towards the direction of Growth if the Leaders assemble seasoned team of Economists, Researchers, Scientists and other critical stakeholders now in the ongoing lockdown and plan for a better future, after all as they say “necessity is the mother of inventions.”
Professor Mercy Ada Anyiwe then commended Deltans, Edoits and Nigerians on their patience in the ongoing lockdown, and their wisdom in keeping to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other measures adopted by the States Ministries of Health, Health Workers and Support of other critical stakeholders towards curtailing the spread of COVID’19.
CEHDEER Boss while appealing to good spirited Nigerians to support the poor at this trying times, also enjoined both Students, Scholars in the field of Medicine, Biological Sciences, Researchers, Professionals, Professors, Educationists, in Delta and Edo states to support the efforts towards curbing the
