By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and the Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi, have emphasized the need to eradicate poverty in Africa.
At Dele Momodu’s leadership lecture, Obasanjo highlighted the importance of security and education in addressing hunger and poverty. He said, “Before we talk about food, security is key.” He also said that “education is one of the tools we can use to banish poverty. Where there’s no education, invariably, there will be poverty.” He emphasized the role of leadership, saying, “Leadership is the greatest ingredient for ending poverty. There’s no human endeavour that does not thrive on leadership.” Obasanjo also noted that Nigeria can eliminate hunger and poverty with integrity, discipline, and good governance, stating China’s example of lifting 700 million people out of poverty. He said, “Nigeria can eliminate hunger and poverty with integrity, discipline and good governance. We can do it if China can lift 700 million people out of poverty. Nigeria should have no business with abject poverty. If we don’t take responsibility, we all sit on a gunpowder keg. Until we banish poverty in Africa, international communities will not recognize us as a serious continent.”
The Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi, urged everyone to be patriotic and collaborate with the government to break the cycle of poverty. He said, “If we want to break poverty in this country, we have to be patriotic in all ramifications. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear. We may not get it right at first, but in a short time we would be the envy of the world.”
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State also spoke at the event, stating the need for leaders to be humble and reach out to their people. He said, “The problem we have is that people don’t have the fear of God. I invited President Obasanjo twice to Osun State to inspect the rapid development I am bringing there. I am trying to build the Atlanta standard of spaghetti junction.”
