Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola has called for a concerted effort in tackling illiteracy and poverty in the country.
He also emphasised the need for a functional local government administration, saying that in the past, local government councils were more impactful through their Public Works Departments.
At the seventh anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media Limited, held on Thursday at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Isola said: ‘Democracy in Nigeria will continue to face challenges until the issues of illiteracy and poverty are adequately addressed’.
Isola, who is in the race for Ogun State governorship in the 2027 general elections, was the Chairman of the event which had “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism” as its theme.
The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development made a case for a more comprehensive approach that would address the underlying issues hindering the effective functioning of Nigeria’s federal system.
He therefore urged the citizens not to view restructuring as a sectional agenda as it is in the overall interest of the country, and calling for emphasis on local government administration.
Isola served as Chairman in Abeokuta North Local Government Area between 1997 and 1998, and was Chairman of the Conference of Local Government Council Chairmen in Ogun State during that period.
