Social inclusion key to nation-building — Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday said Nigeria must aggressively pursue strong social inclusion policies in order to promote nation-building.
Ambode made the statement in Lagos while delivering the 75th Business Anniversary Lecture of the Island Club, a foremost social club in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that topic of the lecture was “Nation-Building: Communities, Inclusion and Prosperity”.
The governor said it was imperative for governments at all levels to empower the people and involve groups in their decision-making process to promote development.
Ambode noted that no country achieved sustainable development through exclusion, urging governments to address the problem of inequality and give everyone a sense of belonging irrespective of background.
He said: “A sustainable path toward ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity also involves creating an inclusive society, not only in terms of economic welfare but also in terms of the voice and empowerment of all groups.
“We must begin to realise that every strata of the society counts, we must listen and accommodate all views, whether they are poor, whether they are Igbos, Hausas, whether they are Muslims or Christians.
“An inclusive society must have the institutions, structures and processes that empower local communities, professional associations, artisans, Community Development Associations so they can hold government accountable.
“It also requires the participation of all groups in society, including traditionally-marginalised groups such as ethnic minorities and indigenous populations in decision making processes.”
He added that there was the need for governments to improve access to education, health services and other basic services to promote inclusion.
Ambode said Lagos was a perfect example of social inclusion as it had provided opportunities for resident citizens across the country to succeed.
He added that the state had also created the right environment for businesses to thrive, impacting on lives across economic and social strata.
Ambode said his administration in the last three years, in spite of the population and migration challenges, had continued to carry out massive upgrade of its infrastructure.
He added that the continued investment in infrastructure had improved the lives of all residents and the state’s economy.
He said: “We believe that every Lagos resident must have the opportunity to grow, develop their own skills and contribute to their families and communities in a meaningful way.
“If they are healthy, well-educated and trained to enter the workforce and are able to make a decent wage, they are better equipped to meet their basic needs and be successful.
“Their families will also do well and the whole society will benefit. The aggregate sum of family well-being is the meat for nation building.”
He said the tourism, hospitality, arts, sports and entertainment sectors as well as the transportation sector had witnessed massive development in the last three years, impacting on lives.
The governor said his administration had promoted social inclusion and opportunities through its Employment Trust Fund and other initiatives.