Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and leading development experts have called for urgent and practical solutions to poverty in Nigeria, stressing that economic growth and national stability cannot be achieved without addressing the deep structural challenges facing the country.
They spoke at the 12th Annual Public Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church held in Lagos, with the theme “Poverty Alleviation, Economic Development, and Stability of the Nigerian Economy.”
According to a communique issued by the church, the event gathered policymakers, academics, business leaders, civil society actors, and members of the faith community to examine Nigeria’s socio-economic trajectory and recommend sustainable pathways forward.
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, underscored the urgency for structural and institutional reforms over superficial policy adjustments. He identified credible data, macroeconomic stability, national security, reliable energy supply, education, and human capital formation as critical enablers of sustainable growth. The lecture examined pathways for Nigeria’s economic recovery, and participants deliberated extensively.
The statement said, “The panel discussions at the event further highlighted the importance of diversifying the economy beyond oil, strengthening agriculture and digital innovation, and scaling up investment in human capital—particularly through education, healthcare, and vocational training. Experts also underscored the urgency of building infrastructure, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating a more enabling environment for small and medium enterprises.
“In his welcome remarks, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji, emphasised that poverty remained one of the greatest challenges confronting the people, and addressing it required practical, sustainable, and inclusive solutions.
“Aboyeji also noted that no nation could experience true stability without deliberately tackling poverty and fostering broad-based economic growth.”
The statement highlighted the recommendations from the event to include, among others, “Accelerate structural transformation by reducing dependence on oil revenues and scaling up agriculture, manufacturing, services, and digital innovation as engines of sustainable growth.
“Prioritize investments in education, healthcare, and vocational training to enhance productivity, improve employability, and build a globally competitive workforce and a creative economy.”
“Institutionalize good governance, strengthen institutions, fiscal discipline, and anti-corruption frameworks, consolidate macroeconomic stability to foster investor confidence and enable the country to be globally competitive.”
