Nigeria Should Focus On Social Interventions Not Palliatives – Amb Oluwafemi

The chief executive officer (CEO) of Africa Development Study Centre (ADSC) Ambassador Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to rebrand Nigeria’s social relief efforts from palliative-centric to social interventions.

Oluwafemi, in an open letter to President Tinubu, entitled: Rebranding Nigeria’s Social Relief Efforts: Why We Must Shift from “Palliative” to “Social Interventions” said palliative encourages a transient mindset, suggestive of mere stopgaps rather than a broader, sustainable strategy for improvement.

He said, “Change is inevitable, but progress is intentional. In Nigeria, we have seen remarkable strides in political and economic reforms, particularly with the visionary leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

“Yet, one area where I believe we can do better is how we label our social and economic relief efforts,” he said.

According to him, the term palliative has become synonymous with governmental and non-governmental programs aimed at providing short-term relief.

He added that this mindset is dangerous because it can deter long-term investments, both intellectual and financial, that are needed to address complex social issues.

“Social Interventions” is not just a replacement term but a paradigm shift. Unlike “palliative,” which implies a temporary measure, “Social Interventions” infuses our social and economic relief programs with a sense of permanency and strategy. This change in nomenclature can stimulate a shift in mindset from band-aid solutions to long-term planning and implementation.

He added, “Words shape the lens through which we see the world. They mold our perceptions, influence our actions, and by extension, shape our policies. If we continually speak in terms of palliatives, we unintentionally ingrain the belief that our problems are insurmountable in the long term. However, by adopting the phrase “Social Interventions,” we encourage a culture of strategic planning and systematic change.”