Nearly Every Nigerian is Multi Dimensionally Poor – Owonikoko
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abiodun Owonikoko has said that a greater population of Nigerians were multi dimensionally poor due to failed implementation of policies by the government.
Owonikoko, who hinged his claim on the world bank definition of the category of people ahousehold that’s afflicted with multi dimensional poverty is one deprived along three dimensions namely: monetary deprivation, educational deprivation and basic infrastructural services default noted that only the rich could afford to manouver the situation.
The Iseyin born legal luminary, while delivering the public lecture with the theme: Government and it’s policy: effect on the masses, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ FRCN Ibadan Chapel, to mark the 2023 Press Week submitted that those in the saddle of governance were only good at policy making but lack the implementation.
Owonikoko who recalled the era with functioning pipe borne water , free education and availability of credit facilities with low interest rates, said the masses benefited when good and selfless leaders were in power
Nearly all that’s good that this country could boast off before and since independence in 1960, we owe to dedicated and visionary leadership of the past.”
He lamented the rates at which nigerian elites enrol their children abroad for tertiary education saying, it potends the level of decadence in the nation’s education sector
Some forty years back most urban cities an towns in Nigeria have running water, the roads were motorable and safe while the universities competed favourably with those overseas if not better, infact it’s only those who couldn’t scale through the rigorous system of Nigerian universities that travelled abroad “
He noted that nearly all the citizens suffer from the ineptitude of the leaders and hinged the situation on bad governance and breach of social contract.
Government should not redecorate past failed policies which had impoverished Nigerian but rather work towards making Nigeria a productive nation.”
He nodded the present administration on its policies but expressed concerns on implementing it rightly.
Owonikoko recommended that the tertiary institution should be involved in the building of Nigerian infrastructure to enhance the the universities contribute meaningfully in the building of Nigeria and also generate employment.
Owoniko, who is the Managing Partner, Synergy Attornies, called for a government with human face, commited to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs so as to attain a Responsible constructive and productive nation.
He enjoined the press to zero in on Sustainable Development Goals to enable government work inline with the goals.
The media must take up the challenge and become a partner in pushing for the implementation of SDGs.”
