An economist, Prof. Simeon Oludiran Akinleye, has called for consistency in planning to enable Nigeria to accelerate its industrial growth and economic potential.

Akinleye, a professor of Economics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), gave the advice, yesterday, during the 19th yearly Adekunle Kukoyimemorial lecture organised by Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos State branch, with the topic: “Going Somewhere from Everywhere: Going Somewhere From Somewhere. The Unending search for economic development in Nigeria.”

The expert, while x-raying Nigeria’s development plans since pre-Independence era to the present, concluded that development plans and policies had not been marched with implementations.

According to him, accelerated industrialisation will at best be a pipe dream unless proper and consistent steps are taken with political will to implement them.

Akinleye said Nigeria lacks development despite its advantage of huge population compared with other African countries, noting that the country needs to live up to its claim as the giant of Africa.

The university donmade reference to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), saying when compared to Egypt and South Africa, with lesser population, has not helped the quest for development despite the lofty goals put in place.

Akinleye, who also identified inadequate infrastructure, population growth and urbanisation challenges, poor stakeholders’ engagement and global economic indices as militating factors against the nation’s development, urged the current leaders in the country not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

He urged them to move away from crude oil dependence, involve large private sector in infrastructural development, adhere to long-term plans, reduce public sector bloat and financing costs as well as have a rethink approach to education to change the narrative.

Earlier, Chairman of NIS Lagos branch, Olukolade Kasim, regretted that Nigeria has not attained her full potentials despite her enormous resources, both human and natural.

He said that the Lagos branch of the NIS, through the Adekunle Kukoyi’s yearly lecture, had over the years contributed to the nation’s socioeconomic development, good governance and leadership.

According to him, the late Kukoyi, a former President of NIS and first President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) remained an icon to the surveying profession and bench mark for many.

The event witnessed presentation of prizes and awards to winners of the yearly Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture (AAKML) essay competition both in the secondary school and tertiary institution categories.