Photo: Dr Alex Otti, Abia State Governor
By Daniel Kanu
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, will lead a distinguished lineup of speakers at the 2026 edition of TheNiche Annual Lecture scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, in Lagos.
The event, organised by TheNiche, will hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, beginning at 10 a.m.
This year’s lecture, themed “Governing the economy: Choices, trade-offs and national priorities,” will feature Otti as keynote speaker, with discussions expected to centre on Nigeria’s economic direction, fiscal discipline, and policy decisions amid persistent inflation, currency volatility, and unemployment challenges.
The session will be chaired by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, a respected economist and former Central Bank governor, while the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, will serve as the royal father of the day.
Among the discussants is the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, whose participation is expected to bring labour perspectives on wages, cost of living, and workers’ welfare into the conversation.
Other panelists include Chief Ano Anyanwu, a banker and former District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 404A1, and Dr. Jumoke Ogunleye, an Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of Lagos and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
In an e-invitation issued by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche, Ikechukwu Amaechi, the organisers noted that the annual lecture aims to convene policymakers, academics, private sector leaders, and civil society actors to interrogate critical national issues and propose actionable solutions.
Amaechi said the choice of theme reflects growing concerns over Nigeria’s economic management and the need for inclusive, evidence-based policymaking, particularly as the country navigates reforms in subsidy removal, taxation, and public spending.
He urged stakeholders and members of the public to attend, noting that the adoption of an electronic invitation format underscores the organisation’s commitment to efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The lecture, which has become a key platform for national discourse, is expected to draw a wide cross-section of participants from government, business, labour, and academia.
