The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, His Lordship, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has identified disruption of policies, by successive governments, as accounting for the persistence of our poverty and under-development.
He made this known, while delivering his paper, as the Keynote Speaker, at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate online Publishers, (GOCOP), which was held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, October 4, 2019.
The theme of the 3rd Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers was, ‘Economy, Security And National Development: The Way Forward’.
“My argument is that, this systematic disruption of policies, accounts for the persistence of our poverty and under-development because, each and every one of these initiatives, have the ability; have the capacity; to transform our society”, he stressed.
Going down memory lane, on policies that were beneficial to the people, which were started by one government, only to be jettisoned, once there was a change of government, Bishop Kukah mentioned, some of them as including, ‘the back to the land policy’, ‘Operation Feed the Nation’, ‘Green Revolution’, DFFRI, etc.
He, also, explained the importance of the relationship, between economy, security and national development. “If you have a sound economy, you are guaranteed sound security and if you have sound security, you are guaranteed development”, he emphasised.
“If we can stay with democracy, with all the difficulties; with all the challenges and continue to renew our faith and commitment; to realising and appreciating the fact that, this country belongs to us; we cannot outsource our obligations, even, to God, each and every one of us, must roll up our sleeves”, Bishop Kukah concluded.
Mike Ejiofor, Former Director, Department of State Security, DSS, who, also, spoke at the event, agreed with Bishop Kukah that, there can be no development in an environment, where there is no security. “Security is not negotiable, for any country that wants to develop, but can you love your country on an empty stomach? It takes political will, to take certain decisions, no matter how you don’t like it, as a leader, for the benefit of the people”, he observed.
Goodwill messages were read to the participants at the 3rd Conference of GOCOP, from the Head of State, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, Professor Garba Umar Danbatta, EVC/CEO of NCC, who was represented by Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Online Media and Special Publications, NCC and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who was represented by Brigadier General A. A. Goni,
Some of the partners of GOCOP include NCC, FirstBank, Shell, The Nigerian Army, Guinness, WEMA Bank, Polaris Bank, Heritage Bank, Stambic IBTC Bank, NPA, Access Bank, Ecobank and various State governments.
The Conference was chaired by Mr, Bayo Onanuga, Managing Editor of The News Group. A new Executive, headed by Dotun Oladipo, as President, as well as, new members of GOCOP, were inaugurated and inducted, respectively.
Featured Image: His Lordship, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, giving his Keynote address at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, October 4, 2019
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