Dangote unveils 11- point roadmap for Nigeria’s industrial take- off

THE President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled what he called an 11point industrialisation blueprint for Nigeria.

Delivering the 38th Convocation Lecture of the Bayero University Kano at the weekend, Dangote said the 11point master plan would be driven by a knowledge- based system.

He also promised that the Aliko Dangote Foundation ( ADF) would, this year complete the state– of– the– art medical intervention project, at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano. Dangote, who was represented at the event by his Senior Advisor, Mansur Ahmed, spoke on the ‘ Role of the private sector in building a sustainable knowledge economy in Nigeria’.

He said the transition from resource- based, productionfocused economies to knowledge economies is a complex and multifaceted process. According to him, the key pillars of a knowledge- based economy needed for the transformation of the Nigerian economy include investment in education, research and development, technological advancement, entrepreneurship and innovation culture as well as human capital development.

Others, he said, are infrastructural development and policy frameworks that support innovations, international collaboration, adaptation and flexibility, a conducive environment and the shifting of the economic structure towards knowledge intensive sectors.

He called for a ‘ marriage’ between those in academics and entrepreneurs to pave the way to what he described as “acadepreneurs” where scholars and researchers provide the necessary knowledge for entrepreneurs to thrive.

Dangote urged the government to formulate and implement strategic policies that support the knowledge economy.

This, he said, would include policies promoting education, research, technology adoption, innovation, and sustainable practices.