No fewer than 500 prospective retirees will benefit from skill acquisition training and strategic knowledge on retirement planning, at the forthcoming 2024 National Pre-retirement Summit in Abuja.

Dr Eugenia Ndukwe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), XEM Consultants Limited, a subsidiary of XEM Group, sponsors of the summit, said seasoned investment advisors would be on ground to guide participants in any retirement planning and investment they might choose.

Ndukwe told newsmen on Monday that apart from investment advisors, reputable entrepreneurs and other experts would be at the summit to guide prospective retirees on their retirement plans as the country’s economy was unpredictable.

She said that the government, private, public and corporate sectors, financial institutions, labour unions, pension fund administrators and civil society organisations would also participate.

“The National Pre-retirement Summit is a pioneering and strategic initiative dedicated to addressing the challenges and the prospects prevalent at retirement in Nigeria.’’

Ndukwe said that the primary purpose of the summit was to meticulously examine the retirement policies in the country; the challenges and anxieties that prospective retirees face, and then propose policy directions.

“The summit will also provide a platform to sensitise and empower prospective retirees with retirement income generation strategies with expert guidance.

“The expert’s guidance may be in entrepreneurship, investment advisory, agriculture and agro-allied industry, export and import investment.

“It can also be in financing, real estate investment portfolio, the manufacturing industry, risk mitigation and management, healthcare and so on.

“But more importantly, these experts will help guide employees who have five years or less, into ventures they have passion for, and that will help them spend their retirement years in ease.’’

According to her, the maiden two-day summit will involve stakeholders across the labour value chain including employees who have up to five years or less to retire.

“XEM Group is the main sponsor of this event and this is because of our passion for the welfare of retirees who have contributed immensely to the economic development of this nation.

“Many retirees indeed face various challenges at retirement, but there are also many opportunities available to them, especially with the skills and experience they have gathered in their career; and this is what we want to guide them on.

“So, the summit will provide an inclusive and veritable platform for stakeholders to discuss and engage on a retirement policy direction that promotes the interest of retirees and empowers them with the right tools and resources to thrive during their post retirement.

“The summit will provide participants with a deeper understanding of retirement challenges and opportunities; it will equip them with the knowledge, tools, resources and networks needed to plan for a sustainable and productive retirement.

“The core mission of the summit is to enhance retirement security, foster financial sustainability and boost the overall well-being of retirees in Nigeria,” she said.

Ndukwe said that there would be technical sessions to equip participants with both the soft and hard skills they needed for a fulfilling life at retirement. #