President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will leave Abuja early Wednesday for London where he is scheduled to preside over a three-day meeting of Nigeria’s Honourary International Investors’ Council. He will return to Abuja at the weekend.

According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, issues on the agenda of the meeting include generating long-term affordable finance for Nigeria’s real sector, developing Nigeria’s private equity and venture capital sectors to attract more foreign investments as well as  Nigeria’s information and communications technology master-plan.

Coordinated by Baroness Lynda Chalker, the meeting of the council will also feature a review of Nigeria’s existing investment policies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Paris-based international organization dedicated to the promotion of policies that will improve the economic and social wellbeing of people around the world.

Members of the council include CEO of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, Mr. Mohammed al Shaibani; former South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alec Erwin; Vice President of Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise Group in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Mr. Olivier Suinat; former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shaukat Aziz; and the Director of Shell’s International Upstream Business, Mr. Andrew Brown.

The president will be accompanied by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Senator Nenadi Usman, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Hon. Isiaka Bawa; Coordinating of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Governor of the Central Bank, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi.

Others on the president’s entourage are Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke; Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri and heads of relevant government agencies.

The accompanying Ministers and heads of agencies will brief the gathering on developments in their areas of responsibility, and also lead discussions on proposals for overcoming identified challenges.

 Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President