Chairman: Prathiba Thaker, Director, Africa, Economist Intelligence Unit

SUNDAY JANUARY 13TH 2008

6:00 pm Registration and cocktail reception
Welcome address by Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Minister of Federal Capital Territory

MONDAY JANUARY 14TH 2008

8:00 am Late registration
8:30 am Economist Intelligence Unit briefing
The outlook for Nigeria
  • The first few months: what are the government’s key priorities?
  • Economist Intelligence Unit’s view on planned achievements
  • Nigeria’s recent macroeconomic stability: are things getting better—or more of the same?
  • Oil price outlook and implications for Nigeria
  • Questions and discussion

9:00 am Managing directors’ panel: change, but no change
Operational issues in Nigeria
  • Impact of political change on business operations: a reality check
  • What one reform for 2008 would help business most?
  • Resolving legal disputes in Nigeria: managing solutions
  • Is business optimistic about Nigeria’s economic outlook?
  • Working with state government: examples of what is possible
  • Questions and discussion

Panellists:
Fadi Abdulkhalek, Vice-president Applications, Public Sector MEA, Oracle
Jacques Marreaud des Grottes, Mananging Director, Total Nigeria
10:30 am Break
11:00 am Nigeria’s future: building consensus on accelerating economic reform
Keynote address by Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President
  • Seven months into office: challenges and policy priorities for 2008
  • Collaboration of executive and legislative arms of government—a united approach, or will progress on economic reform be hindered?
  • Resolving the problems in the Niger delta
  • Changing perceptions about Nigeria: what still needs to be done
  • Questions and discussion
Introduction by Tanimu Yakubu, Chief Economic Advisor to the President
Panellists:
Cem Kumral, President,Coca-Cola Nigeria
Jacobs Ajekigbe, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria
Ahmad Farroukh, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria Communications
Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice-president, Africa, World Bank
Jim Ovia, President and Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank
1:00 pm Lunch hosted by Credit Suisse
2:15 pm Maintaining fiscal stability, boosting spending and pushing reform forward
Discussion with Shamsuddeen Usman, Minister of Finance and Cyril Ramaphosa, Executive Chairman, Shanduka Group
  • Scaling up government spending in an era of high oil prices—is there a risk of sacrificing fiscal discipline and quality?
  • Boosting spending on infrastructure and poverty reduction: why this will help business
  • Reducing the size of the federal government and improving its ability to deliver—is this possible in Nigeria?
  • Controlling state spending and improving project implementation: what can the federal government achieve?
  • Questions and discussion
Panellist:
Stanislav Vecera, Managing Director, Procter and Gamble West Africa
James Farrar, Vice-President Corporate Citizenship, SAP
3:45 pm Break
4:15 pm Maintaining macroeconomic stability
Discussion with Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of the Central Bank
  • Maintaining macroeconomic stability in an era of high oil prices and rising government spending
  • Can the new monetary policy framework ensure it remains in single digits in an era of excess liquidity?
  • Revisiting exchange rate policy: is it time to let the naira fall to boost non-oil export competitiveness?
  • Measures to help boost lending to the private sector
  • Managing growing international reserves and limiting new borrowing
  • Further consolidation of the banking sector: desirable, but will it happen?
  • Questions and discussion
Panellist:
Bayo Alade Loba, Head, Sub Saharan Africa Investment banking, Credit Suisse
Adewale Tinubu, Chief Executive Officer, Oando Group
5:15 pm Break
5:30 pm Electricity sector reform: progress in resolving Nigeria's power crisis
Discussion with Hajiya Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim, Minister of Energy (Power)
  • Can the new government make progress in resolving Nigeria's power crisis within a realistic time frame?
  • Still generating only 3,000mw: why has electricity sector reform proved so difficult to date?
  • Setting realistic targets for power generation against which progress can be clearly judged
  • Why are investors still wary about investing in the sector?
  • Connecting generators and customers at the right price: investing in the national grid and getting customers to pay
  • Questions and discussion

Lead panellist:
Remi Babalola, Minister of State for Finance

Panellist:
Yibrah Tesfazghi, President and Corporate Regional Executive for Africa, GE
6:30 pm Closing cocktail
7:00 pm Gala Dinner hosted by Zenith Bank

TUESDAY JANUARY 15TH 2008

8:30 am Late registration
9:00 am Finance leaders’ panel: prospects and challenges for private equity and
investment funds
  • Identifying and evaluating investment opportunities in Nigeria
  • Investing in infrastructure: where should the priorities be?
  • Assessing investment risks
  • Financial services sect
  • Questions and discussion

Panellists:
Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners
Thomas Gibian, Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Capital Partners
Yolanda Cuba, Chief Executive Officer,Mvelaphanda Group
10:45 am Break
11:15 am Infrastructure development and privatisation: priorities and prospects
Discussion with Irene Nkechi Chigbue, Director of Bureau for Public Enterprises
  • Is privatisation running out of steam: what is left and when will it be sold?
  • Infrastructure improvements needed for business: Power, roads, communications, water
  • Commercialisation of government and parastatals, is this the best way forward?
  • Involving the private sector in infrastructure provision: is it really the best way to provide a long term solution?
  • The private sector and rail investment: getting the right fare structure to attract long term investment
  • Questions and discussion

Panellists:
Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice-chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission
Tutu Agyare, Global Head of Emerging European Equities, Investment Banking Division, UBS (UK)
12:15 pm Break
12:45 pm Improving the country’s legal system
Discussion with Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, SAN
  • Priority areas of reform in the legal system
  • Speeding up cases from accusation to trial and sentencing: is this possible?
  • Contract enforcement: what can be done to make this effective for business
  • Enforcing intellectual copyright in Nigeria: is it possible?
  • Improving the police force and its ability to investigate crimes
  • Questions and discussion

Panellist:
Geoffrey Onyeama, Assistant Director General, World Intellectual Property Organisation
1:45 pm Farewell lunch