Looking at the challenges confronting the economy like high inflation rate, infrastructural deficit among others, Olarewaju called  for public private  partnership relationship in this respect.

We need everyone to collaborate as only government cannot solve the problem on ground.

“There is no doubt the fact that today we have some economic challenges.

“But it’s not only government that can do it. There is a need for public-private partnership relationship in this respect.

“We are saying, every one of us, even including you journalists, you have a role to play. It’s not about banking alone.

We need support and  encouragement from all stakeholders to achieve the growth  agenda.

For the branch Chairman, CIBN, Lagos State, Adeyemo Adeoye, the event has become a perennial platform for networking amongst Bankers in (and outside Lagos state, financial industry leaders, key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy, captains of industries, and it has equally provided prime opportunity for exchange-of-ideas, while providing leverage for Corporate brand visibility and exposures.

He applauded the theme of the event, noting that the banking industry has traditionally played a significant role in economic developments.

“Because of the financial aggregation and intermediation functions of the banking systems, its roles are inextricably intertwined with the growth of the economy.”

Quoting Richard Branson, Adeoye said banking is the life blood of the economy, providing the financial oxygen that businesses and individuals need to breath and grow.

To this end, he noted that “our banking industry will play significant roles in policy and growth direction of the economy and, this is inexorable.”

Prof Emmanuel Moore Abolo, Director General, The Economic Think-Tank Centre, also emphasised the need for collaboration to achieve the growth agenda.

“All the stakeholders in Nigeria need to come together to drive the national growth agenda by pulling all the forces together to one single direction called the vision training access and then everybody is able to contribute.”

He said the CBN needs to align the monetary policies with the fiscal which is key, create institutions, play its  roles of intermediation, making sure resources are made available for implementation of all the strategic initiatives contained in the agenda.

“Here we try to bring in the banking sector. What can banks do to drive this growth. Our submission is that banks play the role of intimidation.

He also pointed out the need to create awareness among Nigerians to galvanise support to achieve success of the growth.”More fundamentally, we are talking about crafting a robust implementation. It’s one thing to have a plan and strategy, and it’s another thing to implement the strategy. So we are saying we need to awaken the soul of Nigerians, bring everybody on board and see how to push this agenda forward to   support government to be able to implement the agenda , if not 100 percent at least 80 percent of the plan.”

To him creating awareness for Nigerians is an important factor “as about 80 percent of Nigerians are not aware that we have an agenda, the awareness is important to get the support needed . So all can work together to drive the implementation of the growth agenda.”

The high point of the get-together was presentation of awards to valued contributors.