FG urged to curb poverty through value-oriented policies, programmes

To reduce poverty to the barest minimum, theFederal Government has been advised to craft value-oriented policies and programmes to turn around the standard of living of about 90 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty.

Founder and Chief Consultant of B.Adedipe Associates Limited (BAA Consult), Dr Abiodun Adedipe, made the call in Lagos, at the 6th public lecture to commemorate the 64thAnnual Convention of the Foursquare Gospel Church.

Delivering a lecture on, “EradicatingPoverty in Nigeria: The role of the Church, entrepreneurs and Government,” Adedipe said poverty breeds violent crimes, and must be addressed now to enable the country progress.

He said government must focus more on its policy, diligently execute its various programmes to ensure growth, adding that to tackle poverty, government must facilitate jobs creation and make the environment conducive for manufacturing to thrive.

The guest lecturer also stressed the need for government to review its education policy, and align it with the highest standard in the industrialised nations to drive industry in Nigeria.

He, however, urged government to engage the private sector more in partnership and enterprise to boost production, saying the decision by government to bring back the toll gates suggest its readiness for cooperation with the sector for infrastructure development.

Adedipe therefore urged government at all levels to commit seriously to buying made in Nigeria products to grow industries.

He also advised churches in the country to teach their congregation how to get out of poverty, and set up skills to assist Nigerians to be economically active, and to be willing to correct and call people to order and recognise its moral authority over those in power.

Adedipe equally advised entrepreneurs to embrace a paradigm shift to create jobs and think outside of the box to create values and products in great demand by Nigerians.

On his part, Founder/CEO of SystemspecsNigeria Limited, John Obaro, said as part of the solution to tackle the poverty challenge, Nigeria must look inward and change its education system to be able to compete globally.

Former Deputy Governor of Operations and Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, argued that for Nigerians to be productive, government must ensure adequate security and promote peace.
He said government must also bring back technical education to provide skills crucial for the country’s development,saying: “If China can migrate 800 million of its citizen from poverty, Nigerian should take a cue from them.”