…Calls for prosecution of corrupt office holders
By Raphael Jov, Abuja
The Country Director of Actionaid, Nigeria, Mrs. Ene Obi has called on the Nigerian government to give priority to investing in the human capacity in order to absorb cases of unemployed youth in Nigeria.
Mrs. Obi who made the call while speaking with journalists at an event titled, “Gala Night Arts For Development” organised by Actionaid Nigeria, at Transcorp Hilton in abuja, advised the government to pay more attention to opening industries that are fallen down in order to boost the economy of Nigeria.
According to her, Actionaid is partnering with the Nigerian government to groom local artists in the country by building their capacity so as to meet up with the international best practices.
The Country Director also expressed concern over the worst indices of health and maternal care in Nigeria due to high level of corrupt menace faced by the country by looters of the economy.
She insisted that the government has all it takes to trial and prosecute all manner of corrupt cases, if there is a genuine political will.
In his address, professor of theatre arts and diplomat, who was also a guest speaker at the occasion, Professor Iorwuese Higher noted that Nigeria needs now more than it ever needed, as art bridges the gap in all aspects.
“As far as we ignore arts, we will continue to have problems in the country” he noted.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Monitoring and Evaluation, Tunde Osibamowo, while commending Actionaid for doing a Wonderful job by improving on the lives of unemployed youth especially the vulnerable and disabled people, he reiterated the commitment of the federal government in alleviating poverty.
According to him, “we are planing a lot of programs and projects in a very near future for disabled people, as they are not well represented” he added.
Arts for development is a new initiative in development world where Actionaid is trying to use arts as a means of livelihood to improve the lost of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
It also bridges the gap where Actionaid gets the local artists to get trained and build their capacity and improve their so as to make profit as the year keeps improving.
