Poverty Is A Direct Threat To Nigeria’s Democracy, Says Varsity Don

Professor Tajudeen Adewumi Adebisi of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has warned that the persistence of mass poverty in Nigeria poses a grave danger to the survival and integrity of democratic governance in the country.

Delivering the lecture titled “Learning from Cradle to Grave: Knowledge and Skills Empowerment for Lifelong Employability and Productivity” at the Oduduwa Hall of OAU, the Professor of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning described poverty not simply as an economic challenge, but as a corrosive force that weakens democratic values and institutions.

“Poverty is not merely an economic condition; it is a threat to the very soul of democracy,” Prof. Adebisi told the audience, adding that,’’ When able-bodied citizens cannot meet basic needs, democracy becomes vulnerable to corruption, insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and deep-seated inequality.”

Drawing on decades of scholarship in vocational education, indigenous skills development, women’s empowerment and lifelong learning, Adebisi traced Nigeria’s present crisis to rapid global changes that have rendered many traditional job pathways obsolete.

He lamented the decline of indigenous vocational trades in Southwestern Nigeria, such as blacksmithing, weaving and carpentry, which were once passed down through generations and sustained local economies.

Adebisi pointed out that the growing preference for white-collar jobs has led to the abandonment of productive crafts, leaving many young people unemployed and exposed to poverty.

He argued, however, that these vocations could regain relevance and profitability through modernisation, digital marketing and integration into formal education curricula.