To reduce the pervasive poverty in the land, there must be holistic efforts from the government and the elites, it was learnt yesterday.
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, former Senate President David Mark and the denator representing Ekiti South, Abiodun Olujimi, made the call at the launch of a book written by the senator representing Ekiti Central, Bode Ola, titled: Why The Poor Are Still With Us in Abuja.
Fayose, who was represented by Ayodele Oladimeji, noted that unemployment was affecting the lives of youths.
The governor said the nation’s elite as well as the government have key roles to play in addressing the poverty challenges.
He decried increasing unemployment and underemployment rates in the land.
Fayose said: “Today, the major challenge is unemployment. After unemployment, we equally have underemployment. I spoke with two people in Ekiti State on Sunday: the husband is teaching at a primary school and the wife is equally teaching in another nursery and primary school. Each of them earns N15,000 per month. You can then imagine the condition of the children this couple will rear.”
On the book, the governor said it captures the challenges confronting the poor masses of the country and proffered solutions.
He urged the elite to use the book for the benefit of the masses.
Fayose said: “The book highlights the challenges of the poor masses. What are their needs? What can the elite do to assist them?”
Mark noted that the book launch was timely because it sought to identify the major causes of poverty and how to eradicate it from the society.
He said: “I cannot think of a more important and timely topic for Nigeria than issue of poverty and the large number of the poor in the society.”
Olujimi stressed the need to prioritise the welfare of the people.
The senator decried the level of poverty in the country, saying the people were becoming spiritually and socially poor.
She noted that “a country where its citizens die because they could not afford a malaria drug of N1,000 is a poor country”.
Olujimi called for reorientation among the people, saying: “Government needs to take charge and look after the people.”
Senator Bode Ola said poverty was a major bane to posterity.
Quoting the world’s statistics on poverty, the senator said this should be a source of concern to all, considering the state of the nation’s economy.
He also blamed funds mismanagement and overdependence on oil for the menace.
On the book, Ola said it was his passion and compassion for the poor that prompted his writing.
He said: “This book was borne out of my passion and compassion for the poor. It is said that poverty is a threat to prosperity. The rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake. With the present state of things in Nigeria, it is a concern to everyone.
“The world’s statistics on poverty is a source of concern; as a politician, it is a concern. The book tries to answer three questions. These include: what is poverty? Why poverty is still with us. This involves mismanagement of resources and overdependence on crude oil. It is because of oil we neglected other areas.”
The senator suggested the establishment of a University of Entrepreneurship Education where youths can learn the art of wealth creation through self-generated ideas as well as self-dependence.
Prof. Gbenga Ibileye of Kogi State University, who reviewed the 160-page book, said it is filled with theoretical insights and actionable recommendations.
The expert noted that if followed, the book would show genuine process of curing Nigeria of the toga of chronic poverty and usher the nation into the realm of prosperity.
According to him, this will eventually eradicate or sufficiently alleviate poverty in the land.
Ibileye added that the book, which is divided into eight chapters, captures poverty, the causes and the solutions.
