African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, & Development

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), in collaboration with Centre for Democracy and Development,(CDD), Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, ActionAid Nigeria, Social Development Action Trust (SDA-Trust), Federick Ebert Foundation (FEF), Centre for Technology and Development (CITAD), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC), and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will convene a High-Level National Conference on Thursday, 16 July 2026, in Abuja, to reflect on the legacy of Nigeria's Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and chart a path towards more inclusive and sustainable economic reforms.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Abuja 14 July 2026

Centre LSD and Partners Convene High-Level National Conference on Forty Years of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in Nigeria

The conference, themed "Forty Years of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in Nigeria: History, Impact and the Way Forward," comes at a significant moment in Nigeria's development journey. Forty years after the introduction of SAP in 1986, the conference seeks to provide a platform for critical reflection on the programme's economic, social, political, and institutional impacts while fostering constructive dialogue on policy options that can advance inclusive growth and sustainable national development.

The event will bring together policymakers, legislators, development practitioners, academics, labour leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women's groups, representatives of international financial institutions, the private sector, and the media to engage in evidence-based discussions on the lessons of the past and the priorities for the future.

Delivering the keynote address will be Professor Bayo Olukoshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement. The conference will also feature technical presentations by distinguished scholars and policy experts, alongside a high-level panel discussion titled "From Adjustment to Development: What Must Change?" The sessions will examine the long-term implications of SAP on governance, economic development, social welfare, and public policy while exploring practical alternatives for building a more resilient and people-centred economy.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Victoria Oseyande Udoh, Head of the Organising Secretariat, noted that the gathering is designed to stimulate informed national conversations that will contribute to shaping Nigeria's ongoing economic reform agenda. "This conference provides an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on four decades of economic reforms, assess their outcomes, and collectively identify practical policy solutions that promote inclusive development, strengthen governance, expand social protection, and improve citizens' well-being," she said.

Beyond the discussions, the conference is expected to produce a communiqué and a policy brief highlighting key findings, recommendations, and lessons from the implementation of SAP will be developed and disseminated to relevant government institutions, policymakers, development partners, and the wider public to support ongoing policy review processes and future economic planning. The documents will also be made available to the public through various media channels and submitted to relevant committees and working groups to inform policy reviews and the design of future economic strategies.

Centre LSD warmly invites policymakers, development practitioners, researchers, civil society actors, students, the media, and members of the public to participate in this important national conversation. Interested participants who are unable to attend the conference in person are encouraged to participate virtually using the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85807299712?pwd=oKjA1KCZCJArqjbnHtayTbItDfUQxz.1

Together, let us reflect on the lessons of the past and shape a future anchored on inclusive, accountable, and sustainable development for all Nigerians.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Tracy Irhezaen (07037435136)

Communications Coordinator

African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)

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