Atigbi lauds Buhari for not acceded to ‘Free Africa Trade Agreement’

Following by President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to accede to the “Free Africa Trade Agreement”, Fred Atigbi, an economist has lauded President Buhari for that decision.

The reports available said that President Buhari delivers Keynote address at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa in Amman Jordan on 6th April 2019. Atigbi, who is a researcher, gave the commendation on Monday during the “first interactive Inaugural Public Lecture on Practitioner Research” in Warri, Delta state.

The event also witnessed the official unveiling of “Absrelis Practitioner Research Courses and Website”. Journalists who were on the ground gathered that the ‘Free Africa Trade Agreement” is an agreement among the 49 African Union member states. The aim is to create a single market followed by free movement and a single-currency union.

According to the Vanguard reports, Atigbi said the development would help to put the country on the path of positive growth economically. He said that Nigeria had witnessed under-development overtime because of over-dependence on importation. The researcher noted that the government had not fully implemented the series of research development in the country to the letters.

“There cannot be meaningful development without research and our government has failed in this direction. ”I wonder why in the 21st century, Nigeria still relies on the use of ballot papers instead of electronic voting. “It has to do with research and making available results to the public. Everybody can carry out research, it is a means of providing income,” he said.

The reports from the Vanguard also have it that, Dr Ovie Ovedje urged Nigerians to embark on aggressive researches to grow the economy. Ovedje, who is an agricultural researcher,  said Nigeria should not just be a consuming nation but also produce to raise her foreign exchange. “So long as we refused to produce, the value of our money will not appreciate. Most researchers only research to publish, research should not only be academic but its desirability should be applicable to the society,” he said.

Highlights of the event, the reports said, were the official unveiling of the Absrelis University in Warri. The founder of the university, Prof. Omonigho Idiabeta,  said the institution was not a degree awarding neither was it a profit-making venture. According to him, the training programmes include advanced innovative research and research innovations for young researchers with the purpose of creating jobs and making themselves reliant. “Absrelis University is not a Nigerian University Commission (NUC) regulated institution. ”It is an online university, it trains and awards “Proficiency Certificates” to deserving individuals, corporate bodies and faith-based organisations among others.

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