As nominations portal closes for WES 2025 Awards for Outstanding Economic Impacts

All is set for the annual WorldStage Economic Summit (WES) 2025, scheduled to hold on Friday, November 21, 2025, at The Event Centre, Nigerian Exchange Limited, 2/4 Customs Street, Lagos, by 10 AM.

Top experts from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, will converge to address the theme, “Tackling the Issue of Low Productivity in Nigeria.”

Industry Leaders Confirm Participation

According to a statement by the organisers, World Stage Limited, a research and technology-driven Africa-focused firm, several prominent chief executives have confirmed participation.

Among them are Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director/CEO of Bank of Industry (BoI); Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); and Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

Academic Insight into Nigeria’s Productivity Challenge

Furthermore, the statement revealed that Dr. Abidemi Adegboye, an academic from the University of Lagos, will deliver a well-researched paper exploring why Nigeria’s economy has remained trapped in low productivity for years.

His paper will serve as an analytical foundation for further discussions during the summit.

Nomination Portal Closes for WES 2025 Awards

Meanwhile, the organisers confirmed that online nominations for the WES 2025 Awards for Outstanding Economic Impacts have officially closed. Stakeholders, including members of the media, participated in nominating deserving individuals and organisations.

Winners from various sectors of the economy have already been notified and will receive Certificates for Outstanding Economic Impacts during the summit.

Purpose and Vision of the Summit

WES was conceived to address pressing economic challenges through detailed diagnoses and the implementation of practicable solutions.

By engaging both the public and private sectors, the summit provides a research and innovation-driven platform designed to inspire new thinking in business initiatives, policy formulation, economic reform, and sustainable development.

Corporate Support from Leading Institutions

Top corporate institutions are lending strong support to WES 2025. These include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX), NLNG, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Fidelity Bank, Sterling Bank, Shara Group, and Ecobank. Their involvement highlights the summit’s importance as a platform for strategic collaboration and national economic dialogue.

Key Stakeholders Expected at the Summit

In addition, critical stakeholders responsible for economic productivity are expected to take the front seats at the summit.

These include representatives from federal and state governments, as well as private organisations responsible for food production, technology transfer, job creation, energy supply, the blue economy, banking, and export promotion.

Broad Participation Across Economic Sectors

The summit will also attract professionals and investors from diverse sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, housing, agriculture, water resources, banking, insurance, maritime, ICT, aviation, mining, hospitality and tourism, healthcare, education, transportation, and the media. This broad participation reinforces WES as a central meeting point for knowledge sharing and solution-driven engagement.

WES 2025 to Offer Solutions for Economic Transformation

Mr. Segun Adeleye, President/CEO of World Stage Limited, emphasised that one of Nigeria’s biggest economic challenges remains low productivity. “Even though many are working, almost half of Nigerians are estimated to be poor, living below the national poverty line, with multidimensional poverty at 63% and income poverty at 40%, simply because the right jobs are not available,” he explained.

Driving Policy Conversations and Economic Solutions

Adeleye stated that WES 2025 will provide a template for discussing evidence-based policies that can generate jobs to lift people out of poverty.

He said discussions will include legislative interventions to curb annual economic losses caused by multiple public holidays, strategies to increase earnings in low-productivity sectors such as small-scale farming and non-farm household enterprises, and the creation of a stable macroeconomic environment through fiscal and exchange rate reforms.

Focusing on Skills, Infrastructure, and Trade

He further highlighted the importance of integrating Nigerian firms into global value chains, attracting foreign direct investments, and removing trade restrictions to facilitate international trade.

Additionally, he stressed the need to align skills with economic demands by designing national skills programs to upskill young Nigerians in digital capabilities.

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He also mentioned upgrading infrastructure as a crucial policy priority and integrating mineral resources into national income generation to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Promoting Domestic Resource Mobilization

Adeleye added that WES 2025 will explore how to finance structural transformation through accelerated domestic resource mobilization by reforming tax administration and broadening revenue sources.

A Hub for Collaboration and Innovation

In conclusion, the organisers affirmed that WES remains a hub of opportunity — an unparalleled platform for networking, learning, and adaptation.

The summit offers an invaluable experience that brings together leaders from the public and private sectors, fostering collaboration and inspiring innovative solutions for Nigeria’s economic growth.

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