Former President Olusegun Obasanjo urged the immediate eradication of extreme poverty throughout Africa.
Obasanjo declared that if China could elevate 700 million individuals from poverty, Nigeria ought to address the severe poverty affecting its populace.
Delivering the keynote at Dele Momodu’s leadership lecture, ‘How to end hunger and poverty in Africa,’ Obasanjo emphasized that “before we talk about food, security is key.”
In proposing a sustainable solution to hunger in Africa, Obasanjo maintained that “education is one of the tools we can use to banish poverty. Where there’s no education, invariably, there will be poverty.”
He further highlighted the critical role of leadership in eradicating abject poverty.
He stated: “In all works of life, we must have leaders whose characters display ‘communality’.
“Leadership is the greatest ingredient for ending poverty. There’s no human endeavour that does not thrive on leadership.
“To get it right, we must ensure no child is uneducated.
“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.”
While commending President Obasanjo’s insights, the Ooni of Ife encouraged collective patriotism through cooperation with the government.
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.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
