The significance of good governance cannot be over emphasized in any country. It is not unbecoming to say that reducing, with a view to eradicating poverty, is one of the key effects of good governance.
This view was expressed by the CEO of Brandsmiths Consulting, a public finance consulting firm, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in his lecture titled Public Finance: Probity and Accountability, at a 2-day workshop organised by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Lagos Business School at the Pan African University, Lagos.
Akinwumi Ambode
Mr. Ambode, a former Accountant General of Lagos State, explored the theme of the workshop, The Nigerian Youth-The Quality Imperative, stressing on the indisputable importance of accountability, equity and probity in both the private and public sectors.
The gathering of over 300 youths of different backgrounds from all the tertiary institutions in Lagos State was an engaging forum to discuss the unpredictable nature of the bulging youth population in our nation. And according to Mr. Ambode, the Nigerian Youth is a socio-economic and human capital gold mine that can catapult Lagos and Nigeria from an emerging economy to a major world economy, provided that sound financial understanding and adequate investment of resources are allocated to this critical demographic segment for sustainable productivity.
In his words, “innovation is about finding new solutions to old problems and it is the youth who will bring these solutions.” He tasked them to channel their energies by improving themselves, challenge the status quo and work to achieve their full potential.
According to him, the process of getting it done is often seen as gargantuan; however, people forget that the youths who make up a massive bulk of the population of the country at present, with a large percentage still unemployed, can be at the fore front of the country’s economic survival and subsequent prosperity, if adequately enabled.
He stressed that “poverty has no tribal marks. It is not partial to any religion or race. Poverty dehumanizes all in its stream irrespective of their religion, gender or ethnic call. Across the country today, from North to South, from East to West, we can see the humiliating mass of poverty in our landscape.”
He insisted that deliberate actions must be taken by the government to plan for the growing youth bulge, stating that the prerequisite for good governance is in the identification of the basic needs of the people through accountability and management of resources.
In his words, “if we take the concept of resource generation, allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development.” After his presentation, Akinwunmi Ambode engaged the students in a question and answer session where he shared his thoughts on many other issues. He told them that every youth must know that the road towards leadership is paved by the ability to follow effectively.
He then set up a quiz session with the young people present where the winners received autographed copies of his biography: The Art of Selfless Service, and his accounting text: Public Sector Accounting. Other speakers at the 2-day workshop were Mr. Kola Oyeneyin, Mr Fola Arthur-Worry, Olatunde Shofowora, Professor A. M. Ninalowo, Mrs. Oyonkan badejo-Okusanya, and Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi.
The workshop is the second in the series of workshops organised by Lagos State Government to engage and nurture the youth, particularly students of tertiary institutions in the state. The workshops are also platforms to discuss with the students to get their thoughts on issues that concern them to enable the government plan appropriately.
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