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The Central Bank of Nigeria has stated that the surest bet to alleviating poverty is growth in employment, as Nigeria’s economy needs to expand at a much faster pace.
This was disclosed by CBN deputy governor, Adamu, Edward Lametek,  in his statement at the last MPC meeting.

According to the world poverty clock, 41% of Nigerians live on less than $1.90 a day, translating to over 86 million Nigerian living below the poverty line.
Adamu noted that poverty is linked to employment which is directly affected by economic growth.

He said, “Notwithstanding the positive outcomes so far on inflation and growth, the economy is yet to attain the pre-pandemic level on several fronts. Employment, for instance, continues to be a major policy concern. The surest bet to alleviating poverty is growth in employment which is tied to economic (output) expansion.”

He opined that the economy needs to grow at a faster pace and consider other sectors that are to perform optimally
“In effect, the economy needs to expand at a faster rate than has happened up to Q3 2021, to generate more jobs. Even at the 4.03 percent overall real growth rate in Q3, some sectors (activities) were still struggling. Among those, Oil & Gas, Fishing and Oil Refining stood out,” Adamu said.

He added that headline inflation is forecast to close the year at about 15.0%. Barring any major shock, the current trajectory is expected to be sustained through the first quarter of 2022.
He added that contrary to what is happening in most other climes, the recovery in domestic demand has not translated to new price shocks.

THISDAY journalist, Omolabake Fasogbon has been recognized for her outstanding and courageous reporting at the 16th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting.

Fasogbon was honored for her investigative piece, ‘Death, sleaze as Lagos N576m highway machine Lie Fallow’
The report revealed how a sum of N576million was released for machine sweepers to sweep major highways in Lagos state in order to prevent major road tragedy for sweepers, pedestrians as well drivers.
To the shock of many, machines were never deployed to sweep highways, while lives of sweepers and many others continued to waste away on the dangerous roads.

The report also divulged the corruption in the award of the machine contract to both existing and pseudo contractors, with parties privy to the contract denying involvement.
The report emerged the second position in the print category while the Nation journalist, Olukunle Akinrinade came first with his entry: ‘Soldiers escort herdsmen to Ogun communities, flog residents for rejecting.
Tessy Igomu of Punch Newspapers was commended for her two-part story titled, ‘Imo’s regime of bloodshed, mindless killings by troops leaves parents, widows, children in agony’.

Fasogbon has attended several trainings and has won several nominations both locally and internationally. In 2020, she was nominated for the Cancer Journalism Award by the European School for Oncology in Milan, Italy. She has a special flair for reporting women’s health, human rights abuse, and corruption in high places.
She is a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Project under the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Similarly, veteran cartoonist and painter, Josy Ajiboye was decorated with the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence while CLEEN Foundation, represented by Blessing Abiri, Head, Lagos office of the organization, was presented the 2021 Human Rights Defender Award in recognition of its dedication to police reform and human rights defense in Nigeria.
Held first in October 2005, the Wole Soyinka award has produced 109 finalists, 56 Soyinka Laureates, 12 investigative journalists of the year, and 26 honorary awards recipients for the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence and the Anti-Corruption/Human Rights Defender Awards.

Winners, runners-up, and commended works in this edition of the award were presented cash prizes of N200,000, N100,000, and N50,000 respectively, plus a certificate of commendation. In addition, winners got award plaques and a laptop; runners-up got a smartphone, and commended works got a hard drive.