The Executive Director, Women
Action Initiative, Mrs Henrietta Agun,a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called for more Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the nation’s socio-economic development.
The executive director made the demands while presenting a paper with the theme “The Role of Public-Private Partnership in Poverty Eradication” at the 20th annual Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) development forum in Benin.
She said that PPP was an important tool for accelerated national growth, development and the eradication of poverty.
“There is no doubt that the government has tried to create programmes for poverty reduction, but the task is very enormous.
“That is why the role of public-private partnership is the most effective way to reduce poverty in Nigeria
“The government can partner more with the private sector to build low housing projects, operate railways, build hospitals in rural areas and improve agriculture and infrastructure in the country.
“This will to a large extent provide jobs for the unemployed, improve health status of the poor and provide good education which is one of the fundamental building block for human development and poverty reduction”, Agun said.
Mr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, the Managing Director of LAPO, said the annual forum was aimed at stimulating critical enquiry into the nature and causes of poverty.
He said that the forum was also providing opportunities for a multi-sectorial policy development on poverty reduction.
“The major challenge of socio-economic and political transformation in developing countries as Nigeria is how to bring about good life to the citizens.
“The people can only enjoy the good life if they are productive and are able to galvanise resources to create wealth that can expand the economy and provide for the population,” he said.