Former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has called for a paradigm shift in Africa’s development strategy, urging governments and institutions to place social justice at the centre of economic growth.
Osinbajo made the call at the Ford Foundation Office for West Africa (FFOWA)high-level anniversary celebration titled “OWA@65: From Nation Building to Social Justice,” in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme: “Social Justice as an Imperative to Development “he said that true progress should be measured not by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)but by the well-being or quality of life of the citizens.
“Africa is currently the fastest-growing continent in GDP terms.Yet it remains the continent with the lowest overall quality of life. GDP growth does not necessarily translate to jobs or a decent life for citizens.
Reflecting on his tenure as Chair of Nigeria’s Economic Management Team from 2016 to 2019, Osinbajo highlighted the disconnect between economic statistics and citizens’ lived experiences.
“When governments talk about growth, citizens wonder what we are talking about. Only big business, banks, and corporates understand those things.
“For many, the promise of a better life that democracy offers is simply not there.”
He said that development should start from the bottom up, not from the top down.
“We should not talk about development unless it is tied to the welfare of the majority of our people.
“Social justice places the human being not statistics at the centre of development.It produces development that reaches the majority.
He stressed that true development must prioritise the welfare of the majority, arguing that social justice ensures fair access to opportunities, protection of rights, and the resources needed to live a dignified life.
Osinbajo explained that inclusion and equality are the drivers of growth and has transformed economies globally.
Speaking on climate justice as social justice,he warned that climate change is a critical economic issue for Africa, with Nigeria among the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries globally.
“By 2050, Nigeria could have 9.4 million internal climate migrants, mostly poor rural farmers displaced by floods or desertification. Yet we are not responsible for the crisis—the global north is. Climate justice is therefore a social justice issue,” he said.
He called on global corporations responsible for decades of carbon-intensive activities to fund adaptation and loss-and-damage efforts in vulnerable countries.
He also stressed that communities affected by environmental degradation, such as in the Niger Delta,should be empowered to negotiate with both the state and resource-extracting companies.
Osinbajo also linked good governance and anti-corruption measures to economic growth, sharing insights from his co-founding of the anti-corruption organisation Integrity funded by FFOWA in 1994.
“Corruption is not just a public sector problem, it is a development problem. If unchecked, it could cost Nigeria 37 per cent of GDP by 2030,” he warned, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
He emphasised that even small-scale corruption in the private sector could stifle entrepreneurship and job creation.
“Anti-corruption programmes arenot just good governance programs. They are social justice programmes. They protect public resources. They strengthen businesses and create jobs.
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“So when we build systems of fairness and accountability in government and in the marketplace, we actually unleash increasing economic growth, and we give our people what they deserve, a future that works for everyone,”he said.
Osinbajo reiterated that Africa’s greatest wealth lies in its people.
“When every policy, every budget, and every reform answers to the needs of the majority, we lay the foundation for genuine progress,” he said.
“Social justice is not charity, it is the bedrock of sustainable development.”
Osinbajo congratulated FFOWA on its 65th anniversary in West Africa and commended the foundation’s unwavering commitment to advancing social justice and strengthening democracy across West Africa
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu,
commended Ford Foundation for long-standing partnership and described the anniversary as timely for deepening collaboration on inclusive development.
Bagudu said the present administration has stabilised macroeconomic fundamentals and is moving to translate that stability into local prosperity through a bold, data-driven plan.
“I have always appreciated the fact that social justice has to do with economic growth and in recognition of that, we are taking on one of the biggest challenges.
“Having sorted the macro-economy that is facing the right direction, we are sure about revenue and growth.
“We are mapping the unique opportunities in the 8,809 wards in the country and that mapping will include how to generate more prosperity in an inclusive manner,”he said.
In her remarks, the Regional Director of FFOWA, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, recalled that the foundation began operations in Lagos in 1960, supporting a wide array of initiatives from education, human rights, women’s empowerment, cultural expression, economic inclusion, environmental justice among others.
“Our legacy is not defined by the half a billion dollars granted to 1,098 partners, although these numbers are not insignificant for a philanthropic foundation. Our legacy is best reflected in the spirit that underpinned each partnership.
“This 65-year journey has also been one of constant learning.Through it all, one truth endures: change takes time and courage. Progress is not imported ,it is imagined, shaped, and owned by West Africans themselves. And social justice is not a luxury; it is the foundation of thriving societies, inclusive growth.
“Today, as young generations demand that democracy delivers not just by allowing to cast a ballot once in a while but through everyday life and opportunities—the Ford Foundation remains steadfast in solidarity.
The Senior Vice President of the Foundation, Martín Abregu, noted that while the Foundation began in the United States more than eight decades ago, its mission has evolved into a global pursuit of social justice and reduced inequality.
Abregu explained that the Foundation has transformed from an American philanthropic organisation into a global institution rooted in local realities, working through listening, partnership, and shared learning rather than prescription.
He said the organisation acts as a bridge linking local experiences to global debates on climate change, gender justice and digital rights and praised West Africa as a source of inspiration for the Foundation, noting the creativity of its youth and the resilience of its civil society
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