Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has urged policymakers to develop a comprehensive economic policy to address the rising poverty rate.
He emphasised that the policy must be favourable to entrepreneurs to enable them to drive the nation’s economy.
Makinde made this statement in response to a sermon delivered by Bishop Williams Aladekungbe of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese at the funeral service of his older brother, Engr Olufunmilayo Sunday Makinde, held at the Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Ibadan, on Friday.
He asserted that mineral resources alone are insufficient to lift a nation out of poverty. Citing Venezuela as an example, despite its vast oil reserves, he noted that the country cannot compare to Finland, which has built its success on human capital development. He stressed that Nigerian leaders must learn from this and, in addition to managing the country’s natural resources effectively, invest more in educating the younger generation and fostering entrepreneurship.
The governor explained that this reality has driven his administration in Oyo State to make substantial investments in education. Since assuming office in 2019, his government has consistently allocated over 20 per cent of the state’s budget to education, surpassing the UNESCO recommendation for education funding.
He said:
“While preaching, the Bishop raised some issues. He said Nigeria has no reason to be poor because we have natural resources. But natural resources alone do not lead to prosperity, and that is just the reality.
“The country with the highest oil reserves in the world is Venezuela, yet it is poor. To achieve prosperity, we must nurture entrepreneurs and enhance education standards.
“I visited Finland with my team and enquired about how the country developed. I asked if they had oil, and they said no. I asked if they had gold or silver, and they said no. When I asked what they had, they told me: education.
“So, in Oyo State, since we took office six years ago, we resolved to meet and exceed the UNESCO recommendation on education by allocating over 20 per cent of our budget to the sector. This is because we understand that some people need to be entrepreneurs to transform natural resources into wealth that can lift us out of poverty.
“Yes, God has blessed us, and we should be thankful. The first Industrial Revolution was driven by coal. Nigeria was wealthy then because we had coal, but today, nobody uses it anymore because the world has moved on to oil. Very soon, the world will transition from oil to another resource. We must be prepared. We must go beyond relying on natural resources and build an economy capable of withstanding all challenges.”
The governor paid tribute to his late brother, fondly called Sundo, describing him as a good man, a good brother, a good husband, and a good father. He recalled how his brother sacrificed his university education to join the Navy so that their siblings could have a better life.
Governor Makinde admitted that he had not expected Engr Makinde to pass away so soon, but the family had found solace in the knowledge that he lived a good life and in the promise of resurrection after death.
“I did not expect that he would die within the next 20 years. I thought that by the time he reached 85, I would be around 78, and we would all still be alive.
“People grow old knowing they will eventually pass away. Some people become gravely ill, and we realise that their time may be near. But in such cases, you have time to prepare. However, my brother was not sick.
“Yes, his death was truly shocking, and I am deeply grieved—not because he did not live well or fulfil his responsibilities. I mentioned yesterday that he chose to forgo university education so that our parents could provide for the rest of us.
“His passing was unexpected, and I am still in shock, but what can I do? What can we, as a family, do? We must submit completely to the will of God.
“Personally, I find strength in God’s promise. My message today is similar to what someone in a similar situation said about 2,000 years ago. You may have read about three siblings—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’
“My brother, Sundo, was a good man, a good brother, a good husband, and a good father. He was not perfect—nobody is—but he was truly an officer and a gentleman. Like Martha, I have faith that he will rise again on the last day, and we will meet again.
“Sundo is gone, but he has left behind a legacy—one of truth without compromise, forgiveness without resentment, and transparency in all his dealings. This is how I will remember him.”
The governor announced a donation of ₦25 million to the church in memory of his brother, stating:
“To begin the process of immortalising him, on behalf of the entire Makinde family, we will donate ₦25 million to the church.
“Sundo lived and has departed, but his words and legacy remain. Now, it is up to us, the living, to live our lives to the glory of God so that when we pass away, Martha’s words to Jesus will be true for us as well.”
Earlier in his sermon, Bishop Aladekungbe emphasised the inevitability of death, noting that Engr Sunday Makinde had done his part, and it was now up to the living to serve God and fulfil their purposes on earth.
He also called on the country’s leadership to manage Nigeria’s natural resources effectively, asserting that this was the only way to lift the nation out of economic hardship.
“There is something fundamentally wrong with our management—or rather, mismanagement—of natural resources. It is clear that if we continue down this path, we will remain trapped in economic stagnation.
“We must stop relying on loans. Loans are not transparent, and they are expensive. If the current trend of borrowing continues, it will be disastrous for Nigeria.
“If we manage our natural resources effectively, Nigeria has no reason to be poor. We need to unite our efforts to eradicate corruption and manage our resources for the benefit of the entire nation.”
Dignitaries in attendance at the funeral service included the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; the Governor of Delta State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Monday Onyeme; and former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Others present included the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engr (Mrs) Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde; Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja, wife of a former Oyo State Governor; the Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; and former Deputy Governors of Oyo State—Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Engr Hamid Gbadamosi, and Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; PDP National Secretary, Honourable Sunday Udeh-Okoye; Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Senators Sharafadeen Ali and Yunus Akintunde; Honourable Abass Adigun Agboworin; and the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin.
Other dignitaries included the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; the Chief of Staff, Honourable Segun Ogunwuyi; the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni; Oyo State Commissioners; serving and former political office holders; traditional rulers; religious leaders; and captains of industry.
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