Through its consistent efforts to drive economic growth and inclusive development, African Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage), a not-for-profit, non-partisan and independent think tank and research Institute in Nigeria will be holding the presentation of the fourth cycle of BECANS. The event, slated for the 25th of November 2021, will take place virtually and in-person is themed: Nigerian Business Environment — Transformation for Investments, Economic Growth and Inclusive Development
The Business Environment and Competitiveness across Nigerian States (BECANS) is a flagship of the African Heritage Institution (AfriHeritage), and also a national public-private sector collaborative project. Its key objective is to produce updated business environment and competitiveness reports for each of Nigeria’s 36 States and the Abuja FCT. BECANS reports supply state and federal governments, local and foreign investors, private sector and civil society organizations, and development partners relevant and updated data and statistics for their possible use in planning, monitoring, or evaluating the impact of business environment and competitiveness reforms at the state level across Nigeria.
Since its inception in 2006, BECANS has been very instrumental in fostering major business environment reforms by state governments aimed at facilitating enabling investment climates, attracting investments, and promoting robust business activities in Nigeria. BECANS covers four pillars (benchmarks) and 112 indicators of state-level business environment conditions for private sector competitiveness in Nigeria. The benchmarks are: infrastructure and utilities; regulatory services; business support and investment promotion; and security
As a public-private partnership initiative, BECANS collaborators include many organs of government, members of the organized private sector, and external aid agencies and organizations such as: Ministry of Budget & National Planning (MBNP); International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA); Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI); Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN); and the media.
Commenting on the invaluable benefits of the BECANS reports, The Executive Director of AfriHeritage, Professor Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, noted that BECANS research is very relevant for Nigeria: “BECANS focuses directly on the unique contexts and peculiarities of individual states across Nigeria. It ensures that data collated at all levels can potentially bring needed socio-economic transformation and development in Nigeria.”Okeke-Uzodike explained that the BECANS report “is one of the most trusted sources of data and statistics for planning, monitoring, or evaluating the impact of business environment and competitiveness reforms at the state level across Nigeria”. The 25th of November report presentation would be on the research findings from the fourth cycle of the BECANS report — BECANS IV. Okeke-Uzodike also added: “Our speakers and presenters are accomplished academics with proven track records. They will discuss the research findings and chart the cause for transformation across Nigeria through Investments, Economic Growth and Inclusive Development”
The BECANS IV report presentation will have notable industry players and policymakers, and academicians will ideate and suggest proactive and achievable solutions for a vibrant business environment and social transformation in Nigeria.
