Osinbajo: Why Nigeria Development Policies Don’t Work

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday identified over exposure of words and under implementation of policies as two hiccups hampering development in developing countries like Nigeria.

Osinbajo spoke while declaring open a two-day State Development Partners Summit and Re-launch of the State Education Endowment Fund (OSEEF) held at the International Event and Culture Centre (The Dome) in Akure, Ondo State.

 The vice president, who was represented by the Director General of National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Aliyu Ibrahim, said talk is more when it comes to development issue but failed when it comes to implementation.

"There are many papers, researches and many development policies that are developed but not being properly implemented. We talk more but failed to implement what we discussed and which amounted to waste of time and resources.

"Our development is too theoretical which makes development to elude many developing nations, including Nigeria," he said.

While commending the Ondo State development initiative, Osinbajo said the state was blazing another trail in national development.

Stating that the state was noted for many great things, Osinbajo maintained that there are potential across the state, which he said was capable of transforming to all round development in the country.

He said the federal government was ready to partner the state for all the potential to be harnessed.

According to Osinbajo, "No doubt, Ondo State has a lot of potential that can bring all round development to this country, and this type of summit is an indication that the state is preparing for development.

"Human capital development is key, and I am happy the state is doing something on this because people must be involved in the process of development."

In his remark, the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, stressed that the summit was designed to create a platform for partnership with stakeholders in the private and public sectors for economic growth and development.

The governor said the collaboration would be in the area of agricultural, infrastructural and human development to create a resilient and growing economy in the state.

He added that the re-launch of the state Education Endowment Fund was aimed at bridging the funding gap in the education sector and also to make public schools more attractive than the private ones.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Emmanuel Igbasan, pointed out that the government was committed to making the state a regional economic champion, preferred investment hub towards impacting the quality of life of the people.