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Morocco-Nigeria Relations : Enhancing Opportunities for Growth and Development

From

24
9:00 am October 2018

To

24
5:00 pm October 2018

 

Abuja, Nigeria

The Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) and OCPPC Policy Center are  jointly launching the first edition of the “Morocco-Nigeria Strategic Dialogues: Growth, Development, and Sectoral Complementarities”. The initiative aims to implement a platform for dialogue on topics related to economic development of African countries, partnerships in the energy sector, the mobilization of financial resources and the role of youth.  The ‘’Morocco-Nigeria Strategic Dialogues’’ will constitute an opportunity to further explore the inputs of Morocco and Nigeria, as two strategic players within the African continent. The partnership between AEDPI and OCPPC plays a pivotal role in bridging the two countries, and places both institutions as catalyzers of ideas and knowledge related to Morocco and Nigeria.

Morocco and Nigeria, as emerging countries, have considerable leverage in multiple sectors such as energy. In 2016, both countries have brokered a deal on the construction of a gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco. Nigeria remains one of the leading producers of oil and gas in Africa while Morocco has developed an increasingly robust expertise in renewable energy. 

This first edition will be an opportunity to discuss key issues and challenges faced by Morocco and Nigeria on the economic front, in order to deliver creative and edge-cutting solutions for cooperation and partnership in terms of growth and development. The event will also constitute a forum for a better understanding of the sectoral similarities and complementarities, and a platform, for stakeholders, that would facilitate experience-sharing on respective lessons learned and good practices. 

Agenda 

 

09:00 – 09:30

OPENING ADDRESS /AGENDA SETTING

Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor, African Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI
Mr. Karim El Aynaoui, Managing Director, OCP Policy Center
Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, CEO, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)

09:30 – 09:45

KEYNOTE SPEECH 

Mr. Othman El Ferdaous, Secretary of State for investment, Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, Kingdom of Morocco

09:45 – 11:05

PANEL I:  FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY
Price stability is important in avoiding prolonged inflation and deflation, and it is a significant objective of monetary policy. Monetary and fiscal policies are both very important in  having a stable economy, and Central Banks and Ministries of Finance have an important role to play. This session hopes to answer the question of what is the role of central banks and Ministries of Finance in mitigating the impact of commodity prices fluctuation on the economic activity and how can they work to ensure price stability 

CHAIR
Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Senior Fellow Public Policy, NESG

SPEAKERS
Mr. Karim El Aynaoui, Managing Director, OCP Policy Center
Mr. Ben Akabueze, Director of Budget, Ministry of Budget and National Planning
Dr. Doyin Salami, Lagos Business School

11:05 – 11:25

Coffee Break

11:25– 12:45

PANEL II:  ENERGY POLICIES: WHAT ARE THE COMPLEMENTARITIES BETWEEN NIGERIA AND MOROCCO?
Climate change and the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels have positioned the debate on renewable energy at the forefront of the current global agenda. Morocco is a leading example in term of renewable energy, for sustainable development. Nigeria, on the other hand, remains one of the main suppliers of oil and gas in the African continent. The different profiles of Morocco and Nigeria, with regards to energy, raises the question of how we can reconcile the differences and find complementarities, in order to pave way for economic development. What are the complementarities between Nigeria and Morocco, Nigeria being the first producer of Oil and Gas on the African Continent, and Morocco being an economic power developing expertise in renewable energy

CHAIR
Mr. Nnanna Ayim-Ude, CEO, Agon Continental Limited

SPEAKERS
Mr. Said Mouline, General Director, Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE)
Mr. Ali Zerouali, Director of International Cooperation and Development Department, MASEN
Mr Segun Adaju, President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria 
Mr. Patrick Okigbo III, Principal Partner, Nextier Power Limited

14:00 – 15:20

PANEL III:  Mobilizing local resources: The role of financial markets 
A large majority of African countries are subjected to crippling foreign debts which could, ultimately, paralyze the economic capacities of the country if the foreign debt to GDP ratio remains dangerously high. This session aims at exploring the impact of the reliance on foreign financial markets on macroeconomic policies, as well as discussing the role that could be played by the domestic financial system in balancing the effects of the foreign financial aid systems.

CHAIR
Mr. Lanre Akinbo, CEO, Wizer Advisory

SPEAKERS
Badr Benyoussef, Director of Development, Casablanca Stock Exchange
Mr. Bola Onadele Koko, CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange
Ms. Affi Williams, CEO of Real Fruit

15:20 – 15:40

Coffee Break

15:40 – 17:00

PANEL IV: How to tap into the potential of youth and diaspora at the regional and continental levels?
Both Morocco and Nigeria are connected to a large community of their diaspora that is skilled, innovative and eager to contribute to their countries’ development. This panel session focuses on one the main challenges with regards to diaspora and youth, being how to build bridges with these communities, at the domestic level and abroad, and set up regional partnerships in order to realize the fullest potential of youth and the diaspora. 

CHAIR
Mrs. Eniola Mafe, Project Lead, Regional Engagement, Internet for All

SPEAKERS
Mr.Youssef Kobo, Strategic Innovation Consultant & Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders Alumnus 
Mrs. Selam Tekalign, Chargée de mission, OCP 
Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, The Education Partnership Centre
Dr. Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS) 
Mr. Niyi Yusuf, Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria

 

Speakers
Karim El Aynaoui
Executive President
Karim El Aynaoui is Executive President of the Policy Center for the New South. He is also Executive Vice-President of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Dean of its Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences Cluster.   Karim El Aynaoui is an economist. From 2005 to 2012, he worked at the Central Bank of Morocco where he held the position of Director of Economics, Statistics, and International Relations. At the Central Bank of Morocco, he was in charge of the Research Department and equally a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Previously, he worked for eight years at the World Bank as an Economist for its regional units of the Middle East and North Africa and Africa.   Karim El Aynaoui has published books and journal articles on macroeconomic issues in developing countr ...
Ali Zerouali
Director of Cooperation and Partnerships, MASEN
Ali Zerouali has been Masen’s Cooperation and International Business Development Director since September 2015. (Masen stands for Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy and is in charge of developing Renewable Energy projects and particularly Renewable Energy power plants in Morocco.) Ali Zerouali is responsible for designing and implementing an international projection strategy for Masen, with a focus on three priority areas: collaborating with Europe, as part of South-North cooperation for trading electricity from renewable sources between Morocco and the European electricity market ; collaborating with Africa, as part of South-South cooperation ; and for the MENA region and the rest of the world, sharing expertise and Masen’s technical assistance, developing greenfield and ...
Niyi Yusuf
Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria
Mr. Niyi Yusuf is the Country Managing Director of Accenture Nigeria. Before this he was the Senior Executive responsible for the Systems Integration and Technology Group of Accenture Nigeria. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria with a Bachelors of Science Degree (Combined Honours) in Computer Science and Economics in 1990. He joined Accenture (the then Arthur Andersen) in 1995 after a 4 year stint with JKK – a Nigerian IT company. He has worked in Nigeria and offshore implementing IT enabled business solutions for clients in banking, insurance, manufacturing, telecoms, public sector and oil & gas industries.  He has attended several management courses and has technical certifications in the Governance of IT (CGeIT), Business Continuity (ABCI), Project M ...
Selamawit Tekalign
Chargee de Mission, OCP
Selamawit is an international development expert specializing in youth empowerment. She believes youth, especially young women engagement and participation is a pre requisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reaping a demographic dividend in Africa. An alumnus of the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), she currently works for OCP Group, where her role includes developing and managing strategic partnerships, identifying opportunities for the Group’s commitment to youth and community development and ideating relevant projects. She has had multi-disciplinary engagements with a variety of organizations including the United Nations, private and public sectors, social enterprise and community groups in Ethiopia, Senegal, Mali ...
Affiong Williams
CEO, Reel Fruit
Miss Affi is a graduate in physiology and psychology from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. She also holds a postgraduate diploma in business management from the same university. She also attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she took part in the Seed Transformation Program of 2018. After her Postgraduate diploma, she worked with Endeavour South Africa from 2008 to 2012 where she rose to the position of Portfolio Manager. She returned to Nigeria in 2012 and started off ReelFruit, her own agribusiness. She is said to have started the company in her apartment in Surulere, with an initial savings of $8,000. Awards: Africa’s most promising Entrepreneurs (Forbes, 2015); International Women in Business Competition (Netherlands). ...
Doyin Salami
CEO, Kainos Edge Consulting Limited
Dr. Doyin Salami is a full-time member of the faculty at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University where he is an Associate Professor. In addition to teaching, he works as the CEO of Kainos Edge Consulting Limited. He is also the principal consultant for Edward Kingston Associates.His consulting activities have included assignments for the Department for International Development (DFID), World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Dr. Salami is a past member of the Federal Government's Economic Management Team He also served as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria until recently. He serves as a Board Member of the Nigerian Economic Summ ...
Bola Onadele Koko
CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange
Mr. Bola Onadele Koko is the MD/CEO of FMDQ OTC PLC and has over twenty years’ financial services experience with special foci on financial markets capacity building, architecture and advisory: Nigeria International Bank (Citibank Nigeria),  FCMB (Treasurer), Trust Bank of Africa, Merchant Bankers (Managing Director/Chief Executive), Leadbank (Chief Operating Officer). In 2000, Koko structured a landmark $285million cross currency interest rate swap for Econet Nigeria (now Airtel) for the payment of its 2G license. Championed various financial markets infrastructure development in Nigeria: 2-WQ system, screen-based dealing, NIBOR, NIFEX and NITTY. His passion is in financial markets advocacy, reforms and development. He also championed, developed and launched a financial mark ...
Enase Okonedo
Dean, Lagos Business School
Dr Enase Okonedo has been Dean of Lagos Business School (LBS) since 2009. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) with an MBA from IESE Business School, Barcelona and a Doctorate in Business Administration from International School of Management (ISM), Paris.  Since then, she has refocused the school’s vision from addressing the Nigerian business environment to addressing Africa and emerging markets, through a new research agenda, new programme structure and forging international alliances. Under her leadership, LBS established two additional research centres in 2013: The Centre for Research in Leadership and Ethics (CRLE), and the Centre for Competitiveness and Strategy (CCS). Both centres provide valuable knowledge and data for enhancing th ...
Patrick Okigbo III
Principal Partner, Nextier Power Limited
Patrick Okigbo III is a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he played an active role in the students’ Union Government. Before coming to the USA, he worked as a copywriter, banker, and strategy consultant. A soccer, poetry and photography buff, Mr. Okigbo has also co-founded and supported non-governmental organizations encouraging entrepreneurial development and instilling professional values in corporate Nigeria. While he was in Business school studying for an MBA from Goizueta Business School in Emory University, Atlanta, he worked part-time for CARE USA in Strategic Planning and Analysis developing statistical models for forecasting donor revenues.  Mr. Patrick Okigbo spent nine months in a project management role delivering the analytics module of Siebel CRM. ...
Othman El Ferdaous
Secretary of State for investment, Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, Kingdom of Morocco
M. Othman El Ferdaous, que SM le Roi Mohammed VI, que Dieu L'assiste, a nommé, le 5 avril 2017, Secrétaire d’Etat auprès du Ministre de l’Industrie, de l’investissement, du Commerce et de l’Economie Numérique, chargé de l’Investissement, est né le 13 janvier 1979. Il a entamé sa carrière en tant qu’auditeur conseil à PricewaterhouseCoopers-Paris, entre 2003 et 2006. Il a, par la suite, occupé le poste de Directeur chargé de mission à Mena Media Consulting-Rabat entre 2008 et 2016. Il est depuis juillet 2016 gérant d’Europa Conseil-Casablanca. Il a à son actif plusieurs publications notamment "Les conséquences mal anticipées du Traité de Lisbonne sur la politique européenne du Maroc" en janvier 2017, « Les routes de la soie : le Maghreb assiste impuissant au déclin économique d ...
Youssef Kobo Aouriaghel
Director, A Seat At The Table
Youssef Kobo Aouriaghel is a strategic innovation consultant and serial entrepreneur. CD&V politician. A former advisor to the Brussels Secretary of Digitalization and Equal Opportunities. A Belgian author, publicist and public speaker. A columnist who writes about MENA, Africa and innovation. Founder of several non-profits, programs and projects working with disadvantaged groups in Europe, the Middle East and Africa." ...
Nnanna Anyim-Ude
CEO, Agon Continental Limited
Mr. Nnanna Anyim-Ude was the COO of Agon Continental limited for 17 years before being recently voted in as the CEO. He attended the University of Jos, where he picked up skills on Strategic Planning, Business Strategy and Team Building.  He writes on national and global affairs, policy positioning and policy reforms. He has published articles on a wide range of issues. He has participated in the activities of NESG since 2001, he has also participated in some meetings of the World Economic Forum. He was a Rapporteur to Nigeria’s National Conference 2014. Mr. Nnanna is a member of the Board of a number of corporate organizations and policy think tanks. He serves as the Facilitator of the Infrastructure Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. ...
Lanre Akinbo
CEO, Wizer Advisory
Mr. Akinbo is a corporate and transactions services professional with extensive experience in financial analysis/modelling, valuation, financial due diligence, feasibility studies, business strategy development, training and research. He worked for about eight (8) years in the Corporate Finance, Transactions Services and Tax practices of Arthur Andersen and KPMG in Nigeria; where he completed several engagements on investment appraisal, valuation, mergers and buyouts for various clients.  These assignments involved several cross-border teams in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, the US and the UK. He has attended several local and international courses on corporate finance, transaction advisory services, tax, valuation and mergers & acquisitions and management. Mr. Lanre has fa ...
Ben Akabueze
Director of Budget, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Nigeria
Mr. Akabueze has worked with a number of organizations among which are the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Maiduguri, Pricewaterhouse (Chartered Accountants), Nigerian International Bank Limited (Citibank Nigeria), Fidelity Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc. He rose to the apex position of Managing Director/CEO of NAL Bank PLC in 2000 and later as executive Director at Sterling Bank Plc in 2006 before he was appointed Honorable commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, Lagos State from 2007 to 2015. He is also a Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Mr. Akabueze received a first class B.Sc. degree in accounting from the University of Lagos and is an Alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School. Moreover he was awarded the JF Kennedy Scholar Aw ...
Modupe Adefeso-Olateju
Managing Director, The Education Partnership Centre (TAP)
Dr. Modupe is an education policy expert with several years of research experience spanning academic and private sector research. She has led work streams on a range of education sector support initiatives funded or assisted by international donors and funding agencies such as the UK Department for International Development (DfID), World Bank, Open Society Institute (OSI) and MacArthur Foundation.  Dr. Modupe previously worked with Accenture and Junior Achievement, as an associate of Crans Montana Forum Monaco. She was Vice-Chair of the Technical Committee which designed, organized and reported the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES20) on Education held in March 2014. As a Centenary Scholar (Africa), she received a PhD in Education and international Development from the Institute ...
Segun Adaju
President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria
Segun Adaju is the CEO of BlueOcean Nigeria and a renewable energy Consultant/ Financial Advisor. Segun has provided expert services as a consultant on renewable energy to various organisations such as SolarNigeria Programme funded by DfID, UNDP, Bank of Industry Nigeria, Ecobank Nigeria, USAID, Winrock International, World Bank Group, Federal Government of Nigeria, Hienrich Boll Foundation, CTI Private Finance Advisory Network, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves etc. Segun has wide experience in research and market studies spanning microfinance, energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Recently, he has supported various programmes in market assessment in the energy space such as World Bank's Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE Project); Baseli ...