Dr Tunji Olaopa, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP) on Thursday
said that the nation needed widespread reorientation on national values.
He disclosed this in Ibadan at a May Day lecture organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council at the NUJ Press Centre,
Iyaganku.
The vice chancellor said “this could be achieved through the launch of a cultural adjustment programme.
“This could be as basis for re-engineering of fundamental governance institutions to infuse public institutions with cultural and spirituality service.”
He said that the only recipe to the nation’s development was to build institutions but unfortunately the nation hosted compromised institutions,
including places of worship.
Olaopa said that the nation’s places of worship had continued to preach miracles to people, which had long eroded hard work.
“This involve elevating the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) operational capacity to enable it to deploy research tools and available
culture change packages.
“This is to create values and attitude guidelines and practical initiatives that could be integrated into development policies, planning and
programmes.”
He added that democratic governance required institutional renewal, administrative reforms, planning and development reflection, which transcended the perennial problems of implementation and corruption.
Olaopa said that the dwindling revenue base and unsustainable cost of governance demanded productivity, technological advancement and a focused public service reform.
He stressed the need for Africans to imbibe investment culture, which was another secret of the difference between Africans and the western world.
Olaopa urged the National Assembly to eschew self-centredness and make popular and people-oriented legislations.
He also urged Journalists to involve more in investigative journalism and not the purchased editorial opinions.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports the event was attended by Mr Gbenga Opadotun, the NUJ Chairman, Oyo Council, Mr Cosmos Oni, the NUJ Vice-President, B Zone, Mr Lanre Ogundipe, a former President, NUJ and hosts of other(NAN).