By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the African continent will be seen as an object of derision not worthy to be taken seriously by the international community until its leaders find a lasting solution to poverty.
Obasanjo said transforming people’s lives by lifting them out of the abyss of abject penury to the mountaintop of prosperity should be the priority of all African leaders.
He maintained that the task is not impossible to achieve by citing China’s success in lifting 700 million people out of poverty.
Obasanjo spoke on Friday at Dele Momodu’s leadership lecture themed “How to end hunger and poverty in Africa,” where he highlighted key solutions at Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said, “Before we talk about food, security is key.
“Education is one of the tools we can use to banish poverty. Where there’s no education, invariably, there will be poverty.
“Leadership is the greatest ingredient for ending poverty. 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.”
While specifically addressing Nigeria’s growing poverty, Obasanjo stressed that Nigeria can’t afford to ignore poverty, likening failure to frontally tackle the challenge to sitting on a powder keg.
“Nigeria should have no business with abject poverty. If we don’t take responsibility, we all sit on a gunpowder keg (sic).
“Until we banish poverty in Africa, international communities will not recognise us as a serious continent.” he said
In attendance were Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and Governor Ademola Adeleke. The Ooni also threw weight behind the submission of Obasanjo, and emphasised the need for patriotism to break poverty.
