In an environment where government policies over the years has made it difficult for businesses to thrive in a cost effective manner, there is need for business leaders in the private sector, to take part in shaping government policies.

Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Pan African University and the first indigenous Executive Chairman, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, made this remark at the February 2010 breakfast Forum of the Nigerian- South African Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) held in Lagos. He noted that the politicians and policy makers did not have the correct business information that could be used to legislate on issues that could transform the business community.

As such, he reiterated that business leadership should produce information that could be used in legislation because if the status quo was allowed, it might get to the point where legislation would make Corporate Social Responsibility an involuntary venture, and have a percentage of tax attached to it.

“As business leaders, we have the responsibility to exert influence on public policy and the environment” Kolade said.

He further advised private sector involvement in the management of any public private partnership venture, to avoid mismanagement by the same public sector managers who have failed in other public enterprises where they managed before.

“ If you put your money there, and the people who are going to manage it are the ones who have failed in  the management of NEPA,  failed in the area of roads construction,  failed with everything, then what you are giving them will also fail. Therefore, if you put your money there, insist that you are going to contribute to the management of it in a significant way. So, if I put my money there, I will take one of my able managers and say go there and make sure that the thing is well managed” he maintained.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom,  while believing that the Nigerian economy had the potential to grow to be one of the twenty strongest economies in the world at  some point in the future, noted that if this were to be achieved, it would be down to initiatives emanating from the private sector and, curiously, not the government .

In what participants at the forum described as his proffered key issues, Kolade advocated for: a fresh look at the systems of running our businesses today especially in the area of appointment, effective positive and integral control, opposition to corruption which he described as a serious factor constraining governance. He also added that business leaders should not think that the change of ministers and other governance rituals at Abuja, were enough to influence business, among others.

Also, David Abraham, Managing Director, Fees Limited, sponsors of the event used the opportunity to introduce his company as dealing in corporate effectiveness and efficiency, reliance planning, consulting and education services. The company partners with SAP in Africa.

 In his response,  Foluso Phillips, Director of   the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce  said it was  important for business leaders to recognize politics and politicians in the cause of business because they have the regulatory apparatus that influence business operations.