BY BEN AGANDE

ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) will build strong manufacturing base and lift more than 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

The president who said this while inaugurating the 25‑ man Presidential Advisory Committee for the body at the State House said Nigeria was taking a cue from China which had successfully transformed to a global player through industrialisation.

The Advisory Committee that has majority of its members from the private sector is chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga with Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the alternate‑ Chairman.

According to President Jonathan, “China has effectively through its industrial and manufacutring sector becomes the largest economy in the world.

“Nigeria can also do the same not necessarily be the largest economy in the world but our target is to be among the top 20.

“From the information I gathered, manufacturing and services in China have lifted over 500 million people out of poverty. With industrialisation, at least we can lift less than 200 million people out of poverty,” he said

The President said that with half a trillion dollar economy which is the largest in Africa and the 9th largest workforce in the world, Nigeria possessed the entrepreneurial spirit.

“If China can do it I believe we can also do it. To accomplish this however, we must do things differently, we must begin to add value to our resources through research development,” he said.

He gave the sectors which he identified with comparative advantages for NIRP to include agro‑ allied and agro‑ processing, metals and solid minerals processing, oil and gas and related industries, construction, large manufacturing and services.

The Presidential Committee is expected to advise on NIRP and highlight the priority items the private sector required and bring in international perspective on industrialisation base on the experiences of other countries.

It will also served as ambassador to the larger private sector and the international community that Nigeria is on the path of economic reform and industrialisation.

The alternate Chairman of the committee, Aliko Dangote who responded on behalf of other members of the committee, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them.

He said their appointment is a call to national duty and to give back to the society parts of what they had benefitted from it.

Dangote commended the President for various initiatives and policies at developing the country.

He noted that the launch of NIRP was a step in the right direction to make the country a global power house in the near future.

On the challenge of poor infrastructure, Dangote said it was no longer a barrier because of a newly gazzeted policy of government.

…asks state governors to lead fight against AIDS

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday challenged state governors to take the lead in the fight against HIV in their various states saying that the three tiers of government need to synergise to check the menace of HIV/AIDS.

He spoke when he officially launched the ‘Protect the Goal’ campaign in Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

The president said “While we fully support the individual effort of our various states, I will like to reiterate my call on our state governors to own and take the lead in HIV response in their respective states. Effective coordination of this initiative is well in line with the agenda of transformation of a better health of our citizens.”

“Although there are encouraging signs of progress, we are not satisfied. It is in this regard that I’m inviting all key stakeholders at federal, state and local government levels to unite around a national plan, the President’s response comprehensive plan against HIV/AIDS in order to change the game.”

“I’m convinced that when this plan is implemented between now and 2015, we will have a more positive story, which the world will acknowledge. To you, our Super Eagles, I’m inviting you to become the goals ambassadors in our fight against HIV/AIDS and the improvement of sexual and reproductive health because together we have the historic responsibility to protect our youths and the future of our nation.”

Jonathan also wished the Super Eagles in the forthcoming World Cup slated for Brazil next month, saying: “Let me again say clearly to our Super Eagles that we are with you and we will always be with you because you are a pride and inspiration to our nation.”

Speaking at the occasion, the Senior Adviser to the Executive Director of the Protect the Goal Nigeria Launch, Dr. Djibril Diallo said: “The Executive Director of UNAIDS has a vision, a world with Zero new HIV infection, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths. The “Protect the Goal Campaign” seeks to achieve this vision through the power of sports and culture.”

He noted that sports have the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that nothing else does. “It speaks to youths in a language that they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair.”