Create Jobs, Tackle Poverty and Illiteracy to Save Nigeria’s Democracy — Ex-UK Envoy, Sarafa Isola

Former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola, has stressed the urgent need for job creation and systemic reforms as crucial steps to solving Nigeria’s growing challenges.

Speaking at the 7th Anniversary Lecture of Penpushing Media in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, Ambassador Isola emphasized that the nation cannot continue to ignore the root causes of its developmental setbacks — particularly poverty and illiteracy.

According to him, true democratic progress in Nigeria will remain elusive unless the government shifts its focus from routine constitutional reviews to addressing the basic needs of the people.

“We keep reviewing the constitution like a ritual,” he said. “The U.S. constitution has stood for centuries. That tells you ours is still a work in progress. But more than that, it’s time we stopped focusing only on documents and start focusing on people.”

Isola highlighted that in developed countries, democracy thrives because citizens are informed, educated, and economically empowered — conditions that allow them to make meaningful contributions to governance.

He also stressed the importance of making national conversations more inclusive by translating critical discussions into local languages to reach those who are often excluded due to language barriers.

“Everyone agrees our federal system isn’t working as it should,” he said. “To fix it, we need a holistic approach — examining how our federating units function, how sub-national governments operate, and how fiscal federalism is implemented. Resources must be distributed effectively.”

Calling for a people-first approach to leadership, Isola pointed out that poor governance is often a reflection of the society itself.

“Our leaders come from among us. If the people are not properly educated or economically empowered, we will continue to produce weak leadership,” he added.

The former envoy’s message was clear: to move forward, Nigeria must stop treating its problems superficially. It’s time to invest in its people — through job creation, education, and policies that truly uplift the most vulnerable.