The group, January 9 Collective (J9C) has announced that Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal GCON will be the key note Speaker at the second edition of its annual lecture series scheduled for Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on  Thursday, January 9, 2014.

In a release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wole Olagundoye, the group stated that this year, the deliberations will be on the theme “ Nigeria beyond Petrodollar: A Realistic Perspective” and it will feature key presentations from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the Lagos Internal Revenue Service.

Elaborating on the reason for this year’s theme, the group’s Chairman, Mr. Percy Ademokun stated that with the fluctuating global prices of crude oil and the advent of innovative technology, and also given the huge natural and human resources available in the country, there is a serious need to start exploring other economically viable avenues so as to reduce the nation’s current over dependence on oil. This will help boost the economy and invariably create the much needed jobs.

The event is expected to have Oba Adedokun Abolarin, The Orangun of Oke-Ila Orangun as Royal Father of the Day and will include panel discussions by seasoned professionals after which a communiqué will be issued to help shape the focus of all tiers of government in line with the theme of this year’s event.

Made up of dynamic professionals across different walks of life, J9C was formed on January 9, 2012 in the wake of the anti-fuel price hike protests (Occupy Nigeria) all over the country. The group decided to use the anniversary of that momentous occurrence to stimulate discourse on issues of urgent national importance, ensure good governance and promote equity in the polity.

Last year, the lecture’s theme “Elite, Leadership and National Transformation” was delivered by the former Lagos State Gubernatorial aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and it was attended by politicians, activists and top government functionaries.