Event

Stakeholders at a WIMB Africa Business Roundtable have called for policies that improve citizens’ everyday lives, citing rising transportation costs, infrastructure gaps and limited economic opportunities for women and young people.

Participants from business, media, creative, engineering, legal and political sectors said sustainable development depends not only on government action but also on effective institutions, consistent policy implementation and an informed citizenry able to hold public officials accountable.

The monthly roundtable, organised by the African Women Foundation for Nation Building (WIMB Africa) at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, was themed “Politics as a Nation-Building Catalyst.” It brought together WIMB Africa Founder Dr Bukola Bello Jaiyesimi; keynote speaker Mayor Akinpelu; moderator Gbadebo Akinyemi; former Yaba College of Technology Rector Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe; CEO of HONTAR; Barr. Deji Fasunwon; veteran journalist and media career development specialist Lekan Otufodunrin; former Odi-Olowo LCDA Chairman Hon. Rasak Ajala; WIMB Africa Project Coordinator Omotayo Jane; and social-impact artist and climate-justice advocate Anjolaoluwa Olanrewaju, among others.

Speaking at the event, Omokungbe said infrastructure investments would have limited impact without policies and institutions to sustain them.

“Policy is not a mere set of government interventions. It is the underlying system that allows families, institutions, markets, communities and citizens to function effectively,” Omokungbe said.

He identified roads, electricity, water and broadband as critical infrastructure, while stressing that their effectiveness depends on the policy frameworks guiding their development, maintenance and use.

“A weak policy environment can undermine even a well-funded physical infrastructure,” he added, calling for stronger institutions, clear standards and effective implementation.

Akinpelu said policy reforms could support economic stability and create a more predictable environment for businesses to plan and invest. However, he noted that reforms can affect different groups unevenly and urged policymakers to provide targeted support for vulnerable communities, particularly rural women.

He also encouraged WIMB Africa to promote cooperative societies among women, saying collective economic structures could improve access to resources.

“When women form cooperative societies in different areas, they will be able to pull together resources that will help them as a group instead of trying to survive as individuals,” he said.

Otufodunrin discussed the effects of government policies on households and businesses, citing the removal of fuel subsidy as a decision with wide-ranging economic consequences. He noted its impact on transportation costs and other areas of economic activity.

Citizen oversight and public accountability were also central to the discussion. Participants urged Nigerians to take a greater interest in government budgets, public spending and projects planned for their communities. They said citizens should be able to seek information about funds allocated to specific projects, while the media and civil society organisations could support scrutiny, public education and engagement.

Participants also discussed ways to hold elected officials accountable, including constitutional provisions relating to legislative representatives and the role of civic and political participation in seeking improved public performance.

Jaiyesimi said the roundtable reflected WIMB Africa’s wider commitment to community empowerment and nation building across the continent.

“What we try to do is to lead, learn and leverage impact,” Jaiyesimi said.

She said the focus on politics was deliberate because political decisions have direct implications for governance, development and citizens’ daily experiences.

Adding a generational perspective, Olanrewaju urged young Nigerians to become better informed and more involved in national affairs. She said the discussion challenged her to reconsider the idea that politics is solely the responsibility of government or older generations.

“It has also prompted me to do more research and be more involved in the political affairs of the nation. So, not just leaving politics for governments, I also have a part to play,” she said.

Established in 2014, WIMB Africa operates in five African countries. Its monthly Business Roundtable convenes stakeholders from different sectors to discuss national issues, share perspectives and explore practical responses to development challenges.