By Princewill Ekwujuru

FOR Public Private Partnership, PPP, to work for infrastructure delivery in Nigeria, experts have said that there is an urgent need for stakeholders to prioritise the review of existing legal framework, address adaptive and social challenges, effective communication and stakeholder management as well as gender and social inclusion.

The experts spoke at a two-day colloquium organised by the Centre for Ethics and Sustainable Development, CESD, in Lagos with the theme: ‘Reshaping the Infrastructure Delivery Landscape for Sustainable Development in Nigeria”.

A PPP expert and Professor at the University of Queensland Business School, Brisbane, Australia, Neil Paulsen, said communication among all parties must be effectively carried out in order to foster easier and faster infrastructure delivery. He also emphasized the need to identify potential stakeholders and involve developmental institutions to facilitate proper delivery.

“One of the key success points of ensuring effective communication is consensus-building and stakeholder engagement. Again, in all PPP initiatives, there must be clear and visible benefits for all stakeholders. That is why effective communication must be a two-way street in which the stakeholders must be kept abreast of information. Above all, infrastructure projects must make good sense to stakeholders,” Prof. Paulsen said.

While emphasising the importance of feedback mechanisms, the don singled out tools which provide effective communication to include information, consultation, involvement, collaboration and empowerment. He also pointed out that communication for diverse audiences must be taken into account.

Earlier, the convener of the initiative, Dr. Olajumoke Akiode, who spoke on Gender and Social Inclusion, GESI, in infrastructure delivery, emphasized that gender and social inclusion was a collaborative and inclusive means of infrastructure delivery that caters to the concerns and needs of all stakeholders- men, women, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups. A 360 degree way of thinking that leads to better practice and outcomes should foster inclusion and empowerment of women and other vulnerable groups.