For the impact of donors and philanthropists to be felt, there is need for them to have a deep understanding of the challenges of citizens and come up with detailed strategies and action plan of addressing them.
Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun gave this charge to donor, philanthropists and others, while speaking at Foreign Investment Network, FIN, Virtual Humanitarian and Philanthropic Roundtable and Award Reception.
Saying that people would only participate and take ownership on projects that addresses their concerns, Abiodun explained, “Private donors and philanthropists must develop an in-depth analysis of projects that will address challenges of the people, and then define a clear vision and detailed strategy. This strategy must include a tool to measure impact.”
The governor noted there had been an increase in the number of institutional philanthropies in past years, including private individuals, corporate entities and families, but regretted that there was little impact on the socio-economic development of the country.
Making reference to the Organisation for Economic, Cooperation and Development, OECD, and Development Assistant Committee, DAC, statistics, Abiodun said that donors in the last 60 years, had granted a total sum of $502 billion to the Sub-Sahara Africa, which he said is worth over $866 billion in current price; adding that thi was just as the United States’ Annual Aids rose between 2002 to 2015 from $2 billion to $8 billon, while additional development assistant of $89 billion was granted Nigeria, to support her development goals.
He however lamented that despite the huge amount, little impact was felt from the receiving population, adding that Ogun State had created a viable development partnership with investors and donors, considering the interest and needs of the people, as projects were situated, not for individuals or group, but the needs of recipients to enable them take ownership, which would guarantee sustainability.
Insisting that the people must be made to participate in the project from inception, while all levels of government should provide an enabling environment for philanthropism to thrive, the governor maintained that stakeholders needed to explore and introduce regulations to strengthen transparency and accountability in the process.
He informed the audience that Ogun State’s doors were open to genuine investors, even as he called on individuals and organisations, to partner with the state government, as the people crave more partnership in education, health and other sectors of the economy.
