Dapo Abiodun, experts advocate practical strategies to tackle poverty
Dapo Abiodun, experts advocate practical strategies to tackle poverty
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, alongside leading development experts, has emphasized the need for urgent and practical measures to address poverty in Nigeria, noting that sustainable economic growth and national stability depend on tackling the country’s deep-rooted structural issues.
They made the call during the 12th Annual Public Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church held in Lagos, themed “Poverty Alleviation, Economic Development, and Stability of the Nigerian Economy.”
A communiqué issued by the church stated that the event brought together policymakers, academics, business leaders, civil society representatives, and members of the faith community to deliberate on Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and propose sustainable solutions.
The communiqué was signed by the Committee Lead for the 12th Annual Public Lecture, ‘Nireti Adebayo, and the Chairman of the 70th Anniversary Convention, Rev. Akeem Ogunniran.
Governor Abiodun, who chaired the lecture held on September 17, 2025, commended the church for sustaining a credible platform for national policy dialogue.
He stressed that poverty alleviation was a shared responsibility, requiring synergy among government, the private sector, civil society, and faith-based organisations. He further underscored the need to rebuild Nigeria’s social and moral capital through discipline, accountability, and ethical leadership.
The Lagos State Governor, who was the Special Guest of Honour, was represented at the event.
A Senior Fellow at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami, stressed the need for deep structural and institutional reforms rather than superficial policy changes. He highlighted the importance of credible data, macroeconomic stability, national security, steady energy supply, quality education, and human capital development as key drivers of sustainable growth.
The lecture explored practical pathways for Nigeria’s economic recovery, with participants engaging in extensive deliberations.
According to the statement, panel discussions at the event emphasized the need to diversify the economy beyond oil, strengthen the agricultural sector, promote digital innovation, and increase investment in human capital—particularly through education, healthcare, and vocational training. Experts also called for greater focus on infrastructure development, entrepreneurship promotion, and the creation of a more supportive environment for small and medium-scale enterprises.
In his welcome address, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji, described poverty as one of the most pressing challenges facing Nigerians. He noted that overcoming it would require practical, inclusive, and sustainable strategies. Aboyeji further stressed that true national stability is impossible without deliberate efforts to reduce poverty and promote broad-based economic growth.
The statement outlined key recommendations from the event, including the acceleration of structural transformation by reducing dependence on oil revenue and expanding sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, services, and digital innovation to drive sustainable development.
It also urged prioritizing investments in education, healthcare, and vocational training to enhance productivity, improve employability, and develop a globally competitive and creative workforce. Additionally, the communiqué called for the institutionalization of good governance, stronger institutions, fiscal discipline, and anti-corruption measures to consolidate macroeconomic stability, boost investor confidence, and strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
