Former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has called on African leaders to prioritize human development for the continent’s growth.
Delivering a keynote address at the Rotary District 9126 conference in Ede, Aregbesola emphasized that human development must precede environmental and infrastructural advancements.
He lamented the devastating impact of armed conflicts across Africa, citing the loss of $18 billion, 330,000 lives, and displacement of 40 million people in 2023 alone.
Former governor of Osun State, stressed that these conflicts hinder meaningful development, diverting resources away from essential needs.
According to him, “The point I am making is that development must first take place in humans before it can translate into the changes in their environment and their living conditions.
“For me, development, though good, enjoyable and admirable in enhanced infrastructure and impressive environment, as seen in the good things of life, are actually its bye products,” said Aregbesola in his speech.
The former governor of Osun State who spoke on the Imperative for Human Development in Africa said the conflicts are a huge break slammed on development in the continent.
He noted that it is practically impossible to concentrate on any meaningful development when the continent’s huge human and material resources are dedicated to prosecuting what he described as ‘meaningless wars’.
