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By Gabriel Dike
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has urged Nigerians to be thankful to God in spite of all the challenges and knowing that many were not as blessed as they are to have survived the vicissitudes of 2024.
The prelate said in a statement by the Social Communications Director of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, that the move towards a qualitative, rather than palliative, empowerment of Nigerians through creating opportunities for skills acquisitions, provision of gainful employment, and soft loan opportunities for small and medium scale industries to thrive have become necessary because of their potential long-lasting positive impact on the nation’s weak economy.
While expressing dismay that a lot of Nigerians are finding it difficult to cope with meeting their basic needs, Martins observed that the onerous task of improving on the quality of lives of Nigerians through deliberate empowerment policies should also be the concern of the organised private sector, hence an enabling environment for businesses to thrive must be continually explored by government so that Nigerians would be better served.
He said the increased cost of energy and other social amenities have made it difficult for businesses to thrive, adding, “we recognise the fact that things must be better priced, it is also important that more opportune times need to be identified so that the burden is not too heavy as to make life impossible for people.”
While felicitating with all citizens for the privilege of witnessing another new year, he also commended them for their resilience in the face of the harsh economic climate that characterised the better part of 2024.
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“As we enter into the new year 2025, we must take time, as individuals and as a people, to reflect sincerely and honestly on our successes and failures in the past year so that we can work out ways of making 2025 a more fruitful year for all and sundry.
“Judging from the recent tragic events that marred the good intentions of some individuals and groups to provide palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians, we need to rethink our strategies for helping the poor and the most vulnerable among us.
“I believe it is time that government at all levels, the private sector operators, Non-governmental organisations, and other relevant agencies should begin to explore more ingenious ways of empowering the less privileged Nigerians through skill-upgrades and greater opportunities to be gainfully employed so that they provide for their families with dignity and not resort to begging for daily sustenance.
“I believe if this is effectively carried out, the high rate of poverty and unemployment in society will be reduced to a large extent and people will have a great sense of purpose in life. By so doing, we will not merely be giving fish to the hungry, but we will help to teach them how to build fish ponds that will sustain them and their families without resorting to begging.”
Archbishop Martins invited Nigerians to approach the new year with optimism and with open-mindedness, love and tolerance towards all peoples irrespective of their religion or ethnicity.
He further urged them to build on the successes of the outgone year, learn the lessons that came with the challenges, and look forward to the future with hope and optimism.
