Obasanjo urges action on Africa’s poverty crisis

-says ‘Human Actions, Not God, Created This Problem'”

October 21, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has called out African leaders for the continent’s persistent poverty despite its abundant resources.

Speaking in Bauchi State, Northern Nigeria, Obasanjo emphasized that human actions, not divine forces, have led to Africa’s poverty. He stressed that only human efforts can resolve this crisis

“Africa is not poor, but Africans have been made poor by their leaders,” Obasanjo stated. He stressed that only human efforts can resolve this crisis, urging leaders to take concrete steps towards poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and improved healthcare delivery.

The former President said, “You cannot talk of developing human capacity when you don’t have what I call adequate health delivery services for your people.

“If you don’t want to talk about alleviation of poverty, talk about wealth creation, I say to people, the world is fed up with talking about poverty in Africa.

“God has not created Africa to be a land of poverty. We made Africa a land of poverty, advertently or inadvertently by our leaders in Africa.

“If it is a human action, putting it right must also be a human action.”

He expressed frustration that the world has grown weary of discussing Africa’s poverty, while many African leaders seem reluctant to address the issue. He emphasized that human development is impossible without adequate healthcare services.

The former president’s comments come amid concerns over Africa’s uneven progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Despite progress in areas like mobile network coverage and access to safe drinking water, significant challenges persist.

Obasanjo’s call to action echoes concerns raised by international organizations, including the World Bank Group, which emphasizes the need for accelerated poverty reduction in Africa.

Addressing climate change, food security, and human capital development are critical to driving economic growth and improving living standards.