By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) and the Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said there is need to reverse Nigeria’s human capital paradox through a compelling National vision for all round development.
Bakare, said this on Monday while delivering the 10th anniversary lecture of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin in Ondo State, titled: “Nigeria beyond 2023: reversing the human capital paradox.”
Bakare, who was a Vice Presidential candidate of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), while lamenting the poor performance of the country in terms of education, life expectancy and income per capital, quoting Human Development Index (HDI) that currently rates Nigeria 161st out 189 countries on the index, also said the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) also shows the various deprivations experienced by Nigerians in their daily lives. He disclosed that “approximately 262,000 babies die at birth, the world’s second highest national total.
“More than 90 million Nigerians experience multidimensional poverty making Nigeria second only to India. 33.8per cent of Nigerians are deprived of adequate nutrition, 45.5per cent lack access to fuel for food preparation and 36per cent are deprived of sanitation systems.
“25.3per cent have no access to clean drinking water and 32.8per cent have no access to quality housing. About 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest number in the world; 85 million Nigerians lack access to grid electricity.”
He said the large human capital available in the nation does not commensurate with the level of development in the country, blaming them on leadership, education, healthcare and labour paradoxes.
Bakare, who canvassed for compelling national vision, leadership recruitment, National Human Capital Database (NHCD) to change the ugly trend added that “Glocal” education philosophy, industry-academia linkage, systemic approach to healthcare delivery and diaspora for development agreements would adequately reverse the human capital paradox.
“I have come today as forerunner to re-ignite and refuel your hope and to enlist you as forerunners of the new Nigeria who are prepared to pay the price to lay a new foundation for a new nation under God.
“I am confident the by the grace of God and the determination of the Nigerian people, Nigeria will be saved, Nigeria will be changed, and Nigeria will be great in my lifetime,” said Bakare.
While the Elizade University Founder, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, said his drive to establish the institution was to build more credible graduates, also borne out of the love to develop his hometown, Ilara-Mokin.
According to him all the massive infrastructural development on the campus were built through his personal, revealing that he had never received neither assistance nor grant from government.
Ade-Ojo said, “I thank God for what he has done through me and many people from all parts of this country have benefitted from it. By the grace of God, it is total self-efforts.
“I love my hometown very much. I want to thank God for the capability of building a university. By building Elizade University, it is the fastest way that this town can be recognized and I think that is fulfilled.
“I believe God sent me to this town for a purpose, because when I needed help from this town I did not get. When I wanted to go to the university, I begged and applied for help, but nobody helped me. They said they had helped someone in the past who did not look back.”
Ade-Ojo, however, mentioned that despite the past experience from his kinsmen, he would not stop from continuing to help his people, urging the youths to overcome all barriers to be successful in life.