The Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, and the President of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), Kevin Ugwuoke, have called for a shift towards more proactive risk management as a way of life.
They insisted that this must serve as the anchor for Nigeria’s economic resilience in the face of global volatility. Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the 24th Annual International Conference of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), where local and international stakeholders gathered to deliberate on ‘Global Risks, Local Solutions’,Shettima cautioned that the threats confronting Nigeria were neither remote nor abstract but immediate and real, spanning climate change, cybersecurity and disruptive technologies.
He emphasized that building resilience must extend beyond government policy and evolve into a national mindset that informs decisions across households, businesses, and institutions.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Office of the Vice President, Nurudeen Zauro, the VP said: “We live in an interconnected world where climate change, economic instability, cybersecurity, pandemics, terrorism and disruptive technologies —including artificial intelligence and blockchain — are immediate and ever-evolving. For Africa, these risks are not distant; they are here.
“Risk management cannot remain the burden of experts alone. Leaders must participate, institutions must prepare, and citizens must adopt it as a culture. Preparedness is not a luxury; it is the foundation of stability and prosperity.
“Ultimately, this is about the Nigerian people and ensuring no one is left behind.”Cardoso, who was represented by the CBN’s Director of the Risk Management Department, Blaise Ijebor, emphasized that Nigeria’s economy is already being tested by external shocks, such as supply chain disruptions, capital flow reversals, and extreme weather events. He said the apex bank’s policy reforms were designed to restore stability by embedding risk-awareness into economic decision-making.
“Risk managers can no longer remain behind the scenes. We must be at the forefront, projecting outcomes, advising policymakers and shaping solutions. We must anticipate both the lean years and the fat years and prepare the nation accordingly.
“Let me commend the CRMI for its commitment to deepening risk awareness and promoting sound practices within our financial system,” he said.
Edun, who was represented by Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Raymond Omachi, echoed the call for resilience, saying the government’s economic reforms —including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification — have been tough but necessary adjustments aimed at repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth.
Ugwuoke, in his opening remarks, said risk should not be viewed solely as a danger but also as a driver of innovation and competitiveness. He described the conference as a platform for collaboration, where leaders from both the public and private sectors can jointly chart strategies to turn vulnerabilities into opportunities.
“This year’s conference is more than a gathering – it is a platform. A meeting of minds where policymakers, regulators, business leaders, academics and practitioners converge to share knowledge, exchange ideas and chart pathways for a safer and more resilient future. Let us remember that risk is not merely about uncertainty; it is equally about opportunity. Managed with foresight and vision, risk can be transformed into a catalyst for growth, innovation, and resilience.”
