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Poverty Eradication: Embrace Social Investments, Eliminate Poverty, Akobundu Urges Nigerians

Published

6 years ago

October 17, 2019

Joel Ajayi

Nigerians within and around world has been urged to embrace Social Investment Programmes (SIP) in order to reduce the poverty in the country.

The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism ( AUDA-NEPAD/APRM) Princess Gloria Akobundu, made this appeal on Friday in Abuja during her goodwill message to mark 2019 edition of the World Day of Eradicating Poverty.

in a statement signed and made available to Newsmen by Abolade Ogundimu, reiterated her agency’s commitment to its mandate which include poverty eradication.

According to the her, poverty is a state of helplessness on basic human needs unfortunately, it has become the lot of many people who are surrounded by those who have in their possession, more than they need for themselves.

“Since 1993, October 17 has been set aside by United Nations (UN) as World Day for Eradication of Poverty and AUDA-NEPAD/APRM),Nigeria joins the world to reflect on how to banish poverty ,not only from our country but the world.

“Out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)of the UN, poverty tops the list of global concerns for more peaceful coexistence since studies have shown that poverty has direct link to insurgencies in Africa and around the world.

“The tendency to consider developing countries as icons of world poverty is always there, but individual nation should remain resolute in her bid to continuously dim the light of economic poverty,” she said.

Even as poverty is still a major concern in the country, Akobundu called for patriotic patronage of various poverty alleviating programmes of Federal Government.

“Successive governments have made efforts to stem poverty in Nigeria but President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been widening the nation’s escape route from the scourge through various Social Investment Programmes (SIPs).

“Despite other contending areas of urgent attention like infrastructure,security and education, SIPs are still getting adequate attention in terms of funding and monitoring,” she noted.

Akobundu also commended the government for ensuring that Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of the programmes remained impressive.

“It is not by accident that African Union bodies are embracing some of the programmes for adoption as continental strategies.

The programmes include: Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), Trader Money, N-Power etc.,” she said.

The C.E.O therefore urged Nigerians, especially those working ceaselessly to make decent living and come out of poverty.

“Individual and collective commitments to earn legitimate living and the passion to ensure well being of others remain ageless panacea to eradicate poverty in a nation and the world.

“Although it is good to be contented in life but nobody should be complacent in state of poverty because it hurts not only the person but the entire society.

” In every human community, you have people of different gender, age, status, ability and deficiency but commitment to exist in a particular class or the other varies in them.

“I subscribe to the school of thought that says ‘man’s poverty status emanates from the mind, he has the choice to live with it or refuse to be held down by poverty’ because positive thoughts will definitely present multiple solutions to greatness,” she said.

Akobundu added that, as people within the poverty line in the country were striving to come out, they should also look out for Social Investment Programmes (S.I.P) that suited their ability or aspiration, then follow through.

“It’s high time people started trusting in government programmes especially SIPs so that the impact can be far reaching for the nation.

As a nation, let us religiously eschew poverty by making efforts to solve societal problems, be innovative, enterprising and receptive to positive changes,” she said.

While commending individual and corporate bodies that had been doing so much to eliminate poverty in the country, she appealed to others who had the means to consider such noble venture as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

“As an agency established to facilitate and monitor developments in every sphere of national life, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM (Nigeria) is more resolved to bridge Collaboration between Foreign Direct Investors ,FDIs (and their domestic counterparts) in SIPs and all tiers of government.

“That will greatly help to roll back poverty in the country and the world,” she said.

The agency which has its replica in other African Union member states has been championing advocacy and sensitisation on socio- economic and democratic development in the country, through Collaboration with relevant agencies.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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