Mayor Akinpelu Tasks Policymakers on Targeted Interventions for Vulnerable Groups

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Veteran journalist and publisher of Global Excellence magazine, Mr Mayor Akinpelu, has called on policymakers to introduce targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, particularly rural women.

In his keynote address at the WIMB Africa Business Roundtable in Lagos recently, he noted that economic reforms could affect different segments of society differently, stating that policy reforms could promote economic stability and create a more predictable environment for businesses to plan and invest.

At the event themed Politics as a Nation-Building Catalyst, Mr Akinpelu also encouraged WIMB Africa to promote cooperative societies among women, arguing that collective economic structures could improve access to resources and reduce the pressure of individual survival.

“When women form cooperative societies in different areas, they will be able to pull together resources that will help them as a group instead of trying to survive as individuals,” he said.

Another journalist and media career development specialist, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, examined the effects of major government policies on households and businesses, citing the removal of fuel subsidy as an example of a decision with wide-ranging economic consequences.

He noted that the policy had significantly affected transportation costs, with the impact extending to other areas of economic activity.

On his part, the former Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, said infrastructure investments would have limited impact without policies and institutions capable of sustaining them.

“Policy is not a mere set of government interventions. It is the underlying system that allows families, institutions, markets, communities and citizens to function effectively,” Mr Omokungbe said.

He identified roads, electricity, water and broadband as critical infrastructure, but stressed that their effectiveness depended on the policy framework governing their development, maintenance and use.

“A weak policy environment can undermine even a well-funded physical infrastructure,” he added, calling for stronger institutions, clear standards and effective implementation.

Another speaker at the programme, Ms Anjolaoluwa Olanrewaju, who is a social-impact artist and climate-justice advocate, urged young Nigerians to become better informed and more actively engaged in national affairs.

She disclosed that the discussions challenged her to look beyond the perception that politics was solely the responsibility of government or older generations.

“It has also prompted me to do more research and be more involved in the political affairs of the nation. So, not just leaving politics to governments, I also have a part to play,” she said.

The founder of WIMB Africa, Mrs Bukola Bello Jaiyesimi, said the roundtable reflected the organisation’s broader commitment to community empowerment and nation building across Africa.

“What we try to do is to lead, learn and leverage impact,” Mrs Jaiyesimi said, explaining that the decision to focus the latest edition on politics was deliberate because political decisions have direct implications for governance, development and citizens’ everyday experiences.