By OLA MUDOPE, Osogbo –
Infrastructure development is not just a panacea to security challenges facing the nation, but also a potent key to address poverty and other questions of under-development.
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, stated this on Sunday in Osogbo during the 2023 annual lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Adeleke, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, said his administration was committed and passionate about poverty alleviation and the overall growth of the State through localised and grassroots -oriented Infrastructure.
He said: “Any government that is serious about positive upliftment of the citizenry must focus on infrastructural growth. It is not an optional choice for elected or appointed leaders.
” It is the fastest route to tackle poverty, address under-development and securing the state is a seamless multimodal connectivity, closing the urban-rural gap, opening business opportunities and empowering the citizenry as productive economic operators.
” I may not quote any authority but my experience supports my assertion that infrastructure deficit is mostly synonymous with poverty – endemic society.
” In fact, the difference between a developed and developing society is the level of infrastructure development.
” Any leader genuinely interested in lifting the citizenry out of the poverty circle must, therefore, prioritise development of transport, communication and allied facilities,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
The governor said infrastructure development was the lifewire of societal transformation, calling for “close synergy between the political leadership and sectoral professional groups.
Adeleke said his administration was ready to partner with NSE in the drive to develop Osun state, adding that the NSE and other professional groups should accept his offer to be partner in the building and development of the state
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