Infrastructure Decay, Weak Institutions, Sign Of Deficit In Governance – Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has said that Nigeria’s greatest challenges which include infrastructure decay, weak public institutions, corruption, others was as a result of governance in deficit.

The Governor stated this while delivering a lecture entitled; “Good Governance for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development: Experience  and Lessons” at the 2017 edition of University of Ibadan Alumni Lecture held on Friday at the university campus, Ibadan.

Okowa who also proffered solutions to the challenges, said; “the lamentable state of our socio-economic development evidenced by corruption in all facets of our national life, weak public institutions, crumbling infrastructure, urban decay, loyalty to primordial interests, weak healthcare system, low literacy rate and widespread poverty is indicative of a governance deficit.

According to him, “We must, therefore, ensure effective governance systems and institutions that are responsive to public needs, delivering essential services, promoting inclusive economic growth and political processes that ensure citizens can hold public officials to account.

He said, “there is, of course, no ‘one-size-fits-all’ model of good governance but having inclusive political and economic institutions should be the primary consideration.

“Through the Annual Lecture series, the University of Ibadan has maintained its front runner status not just as the premier university but as a main driver of thought, ideas and policy reforms in the country”.

Furthermore, the governor said that poverty sticks out like a sore thumb amidst reports of economic growth with more than 62 per cent of Nigeria living in absolute poverty.

He stated that as a way forward; “there should be focused and enduring policy options to generate employment and reduce poverty; and viable, strong, productive and profitable Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) as harbingers of economic growth and poverty reduction.”

“It is fair to say that these initiatives have helped to boost macroeconomic growth and aid financial inclusion, and the success recorded so far can, at best, be termed modest against the background of persistent income inequality, rising unemployment and unabated poverty.

“It is obvious that poverty cannot be reduced or eradicated in Nigeria unless the present high level of unemployment/ underemployment is successfully tackled and we find a way of making MSMEs as productive and profitable as they are in other parts of the world including the advanced countries ” he added.

Maintaining that it is incumbent on current policy formulators, political leaders and decision makers in government to avoid the pitfalls of previous intervention programmes, he said it is a fallacy to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.

The governor was honoured with an award of “Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award” by the association during the occasion graced by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and other top government functionaries.

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