The Bank of Industry, manufacturers, private-sector leaders, academics and government officials will gather on Nov. 21 in Lagos to confront Nigeria’s long-standing productivity crisis at the WorldStage Economic Summit (WES) 2025.
President of World Stage Ltd., Mr Segun Adeleye, said improving productivity is crucial to reversing poverty trends, noting that while many Nigerians are employed, nearly half still live below the national poverty line and multidimensional poverty has risen to 63 per cent.
He questioned whether the country’s economic transformation is producing the type of high-productivity jobs needed to improve living standards sustainably.
The summit, with the theme “Tackling the Issue of Low Productivity in Nigeria,” will host sector leaders including the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, and his counterpart at the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde.
Dr Abidemi Adegboye of the University of Lagos will present a paper examining why the economy remains stuck in low productivity despite growth reforms.
Adeleye said the gathering would propose policies and practical strategies to raise productivity, drive innovation and support economic transformation across key sectors such as agriculture, technology, job creation, energy, blue economy, banking and export expansion.
He disclosed that nominations for the WES 2025 Awards for Outstanding Economic Impacts have closed, with winners already notified ahead of their recognition at the event.
According to him, the summit will also review the economic impact of frequent public holidays and explore ways to boost productivity in small-scale farming and other non-farm enterprises.
“WES remains a hub of opportunity, providing a platform for networking, learning and collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders and the private sector to unlock growth and reduce poverty,” Adeleye said.
