Following an invitation by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Dr. George Mavrotas, Head of the IFPRI-NSSP Office, delivered the keynote address on “Urbanization Trends, Stylized Facts and Policy Challenges in Nigeria (and beyond)” in the international conference on Challenges of Governance in Mega Cities” organized by the Center of Research in Urban Affairs and ISEC in Bangalore, India on 25 and 26 October 2018.
The above 2-day international conference on urbanization brought together many experts from India and other parts of the world to brainstorm on the key challenges associated with mega cities in the developing world. In his keynote address, Dr. Mavrotas, stressed that it is widely agreed that the future is urban…and this is an irreversible trend. But at the same time, it is crucial for the international development community at large, governments (both at the federal and local/state level), policymakers, donors and urban experts, to rise to the urban challenge. Providing modern solutions to urban problems in the mega cities in the world, and the various urban agglomerations in developing countries, is vital for a smooth, environmentally sustainable and pro-poor urbanization process in the coming years, of great benefit to billions of people.
He also emphasized that ignoring the emerging challenge would have disastrous implications for the urban poor worldwide and for food security in the developing world.
He also delivered a seminar paper on “Agricultural Growth and Fiscal Coordination in Developing Countries: Evidence and Policy Lessons from Nigeria”, at the IFPRI South Asia Regional Office in Delhi, India on 23 Oct. 2018, attended by staff members of the Delhi Office and other participants.
