The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, has hosted the inaugural edition of the Government-Private Sector Dialogue Series.

Held on Saturday, November 1, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, the event forms part of the government’s initiative to align national economic reforms with real-world business realities.

Speaking on the theme “Finance and SME Growth Roundtable,” Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite said the Federal Government is committed to being more “present, responsive, and accountable.”

She emphasized that policies should be developed with the people rather than for them, describing the event as the start of a structured and ongoing dialogue between policymakers and the private sector in Nigeria.

“GPS dialogue series is a platform where the voices of entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders directly shape the priorities of governance,” she said.

“We are transitioning from survival mode to influence mode. Government can design policy, business can activate productivity, and together, we can build prosperity.”

The inaugural edition of the GPS series began with members of the trading and entrepreneurial community of South-East origin residing in Lagos.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the initiative and assured participants of the Federal Government’s full support.

He emphasized that “dialogue, timing, and consultation are essential to effective reform,” and announced upcoming digital initiatives such as the National Single Window Project, aimed at enhancing trade facilitation and lowering import and export costs.

Market leaders who attended the event expressed optimism about the dialogue, describing it as “the first genuine collaboration between government and traders in decades.”

They commended the minister for “bringing government to the people” and pledged to work together to ensure continuity and sustained engagement.

The minister also launched a WhatsApp coordination forum to maintain ongoing engagement between federal agencies, traders, and business associations, noting that the platform is designed to ensure the dialogue translates into sustained action.

The programme featured intensive panel sessions with key institutions, including the Bank of Industry, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Development Bank of Nigeria, CREDICORP, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Nigeria Customs Service, NOTAP, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, among others.