Omobayo Calls for Enshrined Social Justice in Governance
By Ahiaba Douglas
The former Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Engr. Marvelous Omobayo Godwins, has identified the promotion of social justice in leadership and governance as indispensable for nation building.
The former Deputy Governor made this known to the media at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday, August 21st, 2025, during a Political Economy Summit themed “Political Economy of Nation Building: The World’s Unfinished Business.” The summit was organized by the International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration (IIEPEA), in collaboration with the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), and attracted participants from all walks of life across Nigeria.
Omobayo stressed that governance at all levels must reflect the commitment of leaders to the promotion and institutionalization of social justice, particularly in a pluralistic country like Nigeria. He lamented that governance in Nigeria has often been bereft of social justice, as primordial and sectional interests remain manifestly entrenched at different tiers of government.
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He further noted that the benchmark for any country’s overall nation-building efforts has already been outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that world leaders are expected to achieve them by 2030.
> “We have five years to 2030, which is the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I believe our government still has enough time to meet these targets,” he stated.
Reacting to the summit’s theme, Omobayo described it as both apt and timely, noting that it was a clarion call for responsive and people-driven leadership.
According to him, the provision of basic amenities and infrastructure must be an integral part of nation building, urging the government to demonstrate genuine concern and readiness to provide these within the limits of available resources.
The former Deputy Governor commended IIEPEA and UN-WCD for their thoughtfulness in selecting a theme that reflects the realities and concerns of Nigerians, as well as the depth with which resource persons addressed the issues.
> “If this event is well televised, there will be no need for a CONFAB or any other National Conference, because the discussions here mirror our problems and also proffer solutions,” he remarked.
At the summit, Omobayo was also conferred with a Fellowship Award of the IIEPEA/UN-WCD, which he described as a mark of honor, recognition, and a call to further contribute to the task of nation building.
