Nigeria’s continuing dependence on oil as a sole economic resource while neglecting over 40 other mineral resources has attracted the attention of concerned citizens, who have argued for the economy to be diversified so as to engender growth and development. Also, government has been urged to curtail the threat terrorism poses to the country so that meaningful economic activities could take place.

These were some of the views expressed at the 37th National Convention of Neo-Black Movement of Africa, which was held in Lekki Peninsula Resort Lekki, Lagos. The convention has ‘Focused on the Future, Investing on our Community, Health, Wealth and Self’ as theme.

In his lecture, Dr. Odeworitse Itseghare, said Nigeria has no fewer than 41 mineral deposits in vast commercial quantities apart from crude oil and which were yet to be exploited. He noted that there had been improved political and social stability coupled with economic reforms in many countries, which had led to increase in Foreign Direct Investment into many African countries especially from China.

According to him, “several African economies have been amongst the world’s fastest growing since 2011, though with the current downturn in the price of crude oil many, including Nigeria, are going through severe economic problems. Nonetheless, it is within this period under review that Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa outstripping South Africa and Egypt, with even the economy of Lagos being much bigger than that of Kenya”.

This growth rate, Itseghare added, accounted for the facilitation and diffusion of information technology particularly in the use and availability of the mobile telephony.

Also, the National President of NBM of Africa, Bemigho Eyeoyibo said it was an exciting time for the organization to continue to grow and adapt to an ever changing world while remaining relevant and true to Pan-African ideals.

Also, former Head of NBM from Benin Zone, Ambassador Mayor Onyebueke, told The Guardian that it was a delegates’ convention with representatives from all the 36 states and the Diaspora, who had gathered to rub minds and grow the organisation. Onyebueke maintained that the situation in the country, with the young losing focus and most of them becoming hopeless, there was need to educate, guild and empower them to work hard for the future. He tasked them to be hopeful and not to think that life had come to an end.

Moreso, Nigerian leaders have been charged to tackle terrorism, saying the menace had continued to bring sorrow, untimely death and poverty to several families and consequent dislocation of society.

This was the observation of Dr. Anthony Orunkoya who spoke on ‘Terrorism and Arms Conflict- Threat to the Present and the Future’.

He advocated ways of curbing insurgency to include employment, provision of infrastructural facilities, good and proper education, good governance and accountability, provision of CCTV in all the nooks and crannies of the country and fortifying the country’s porous borders.