WorldStage– The Federal Ministry of Finance has emphasised the need for stronger collaboration with professional institutions to accelerate Nigeria’s economic transformation, infrastructure development and sustainable growth through innovation, research and capacity building.
Mr Efe Ovuakporie, the ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja after a meeting with stakeholders.
Speaking during a meeting with the Nigerian Institute of Architects International Integrated Research for Development Conference Programmes (NIA IINFRADCO), Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mr Mohammed Danjuma, emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships.
Danjuma said sustainable economic growth required purposeful collaboration that harnessed professional expertise, innovation and institutional capacity to address development challenges and improve the welfare of citizens.
According to him, professional bodies play critical roles in policy development, human capital advancement, innovation and infrastructure delivery that generate lasting benefits for the nation.
The permanent secretary described NIA IINFRADCO as a forward-looking institution supporting the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda and efforts to improve national productivity.
He said that the institute’s focus on research, capacity development and professional excellence aligned with the country’s broader development priorities and economic objectives.
Danjuma assured stakeholders that the ministry would continue engaging institutions capable of providing practical and sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s development and infrastructure needs.
He urged the institute to deepen collaboration with government agencies, development partners and private sector stakeholders to promote investment, enterprise growth, job creation and infrastructure development.
According to him, strategic partnerships remain indispensable for building a stronger, more competitive and resilient economy capable of meeting future challenges and opportunities.
Earlier, Chairman of NIA IINFRADCO, Mr M.B. Bello, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing professional excellence through research, innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity development initiatives.
Bello said the institute sought to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice across the built environment sector and related disciplines.
He added that collaboration among government, academia, development partners and the private sector remained essential for achieving sustainable infrastructure development and economic growth.
The chairman said the institute was positioning itself as a centre of excellence in architectural education, professional certification, policy advocacy, research and consultancy services.Bello expressed confidence that sustained collaboration would drive innovation, improve infrastructure delivery and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long-term economic development goals.
