Dr Ausbeth Ajagu, MFR, is a renowned political economist and industrialist, and chairman, corporate affairs and strategic planning committee of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, Ajagu, who is also the President of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria, reveals why the economy is in crisis and suggests the way forward. Excerpts:

Maxi Okwu? Maxi Okwu is a lawyer and politician. Fortunately he had a father that understood the value of education and provided him the necessary support needed to excel in life hence he is benefiting it today.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on August 5 inaugurated a council to look into public companies acquired but mismanaged by private investors.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga yesterday said Nigeria loses N775billion annually over non-metering of oil wells and inaccuracy ship-to-shore loading and offloading of vessels

In May 2006, when the renowned World Economist and former Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was at the helm of affairs at the Federal Ministry of Finance, she invited some experts at World Customs Organisation (WCO) to audit the performance of the Nigeria Customs Service.

THE National Economic Management Team, NEMT, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, moved to fix the perennial challenges in the agriculture sector with an approval of an Agricultural Transformation Action Plan, ATAP, that has the capacity to generate over 3.5 million jobs, leads to injection of N410 billion (about $2.58 billion) into the economy, and enrich farmers with over N300 billion (about $2 billion) in the next four years.

United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, UBA Foundation has concluded arrangements to invest in human capital development in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

Geo-Fluids Plc has recorded a turnover of N2.1 billion in its financial year end, December 31 2010.

The Federal Government has called on banks and financial institutions in the country to help finance the development and deployment of renewable energy technology in Nigeria, saying that it has put in place the necessary framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is sponsoring that National Root Crops Research Institute, (NRCRI) Umudike, to research into the production of bio-fortified cassava.Dr Keneth Nwosu, the Executive Director of the institute, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.