Data-Driven Approach, Community Farming, Skills Training Key To Poverty Reduction – Emir Sani Pai III
The Emir of Pai in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abubakar Sani Pai III, has called for data-driven and community-focused approaches to poverty alleviation, stressing that accurate information remains critical to the success of development interventions.
The traditional ruler made the call at a one-day poverty alleviation workshop organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) in Abuja.
Speaking on strategies for reducing poverty and improving livelihoods, the Emir said effective planning and targeted interventions can only be achieved when governments and development partners have access to reliable data on communities and their needs.
According to him, one of the major challenges often confronting poverty reduction programmes is the absence of credible data, which can limit their impact and effectiveness.
He noted that community-based agricultural initiatives, youth empowerment programmes and improved market linkages are among practical measures that can help lift people out of poverty when properly implemented.
The monarch highlighted an agricultural intervention model in which communities cultivate between five and 10 hectares of farmland with support in the form of tractors and other farming implements, while retaining the proceeds for community development and economic empowerment.
He added that connecting farmers to larger markets is essential to reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that agricultural producers receive fair value for their products.
According to him, farmers often face significant challenges marketing their produce, while middlemen frequently take the largest share of returns, leaving producers with little profit.
The Emir also emphasised the importance of skills acquisition and youth empowerment, saying interventions should be tailored to the interests and needs of beneficiaries.
He cited vocational training and apprenticeship schemes as viable approaches to equipping young people with employable skills, while encouraging support for youths pursuing careers in sports and other sectors.
Alhaji Pai urged journalists and development correspondents to examine successful poverty reduction models from other countries and use their platforms to provide constructive feedback to policymakers.
“We do not necessarily have to copy everything from elsewhere. We should identify what works, adapt it to our environment and use it to improve the living conditions of our people,” he said.
The traditional ruler further underscored the role of infrastructure, particularly rural roads, in stimulating economic growth and opening up previously isolated communities.
He said improved access roads facilitate the movement of people, farm produce and goods, thereby creating opportunities for trade and enhancing local economies.
The Emir called for stronger collaboration among policymakers, development partners, the media and local communities to develop sustainable solutions to poverty and create greater economic opportunities for rural populations.
The workshop brought together media practitioners and stakeholders to discuss strategies for poverty reduction and sustainable development in Nigeria.
