Chief Executive Officer of Africa Development Study Centre (ADSC), Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, has given reasons why President Bola Tinubu should rebrand social relief efforts from palliative to social interventions.
In an open letter to the President, entitled: Rebranding Nigeria’s Social Relief Efforts: Why We Must Shift from “Palliative” to “Social Interventions,” he emphasised the paradigm shift to social interventions from palliatives.
He said,
“Change is inevitable, but progress is intentional. In Nigeria, we have seen progress in political and economic reforms, particularly with the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
“Yet, one area we can do better is how we label social and economic relief efforts.
“Palliative” has become synonymous with government and non-government programmes of short-term relief.
“Unfortunately, this encourages a transient mindset, suggesting these efforts are stop gaps and not part of a broader, strategy for improvement.
“This mindset is dangerous because it can deter long-term investments, intellectual and financial, needed to address complex social issues.”
Urging Nigeria to rebrand, Oluwafemi added: “Social Interventions” are not just a replacement term but a paradigm shift.
“Unlike “palliative,” which implies a temporary measure, “Social Interventions” infuse our social and economic relief programmes with a sense of permanence and strategy. This change in nomenclature can stimulate a shift in mindset from band-aid solutions to long-term planning and implementation.
“The call to change our vernacular resonates with President Tinubu’s transformative economic initiatives. Since taking office, the President has been a beacon of progressive change. From lifting the visa ban with UAE to encouraging foreign investments, President Tinubu’s economic policies aim for robust, sustainable growth. It is imperative that our social programmes, and the language we use to describe them, align with this vision for a more prosperous Nigeria.
“To bring about this critical change in discourse, I urge policy makers, non-government organisations, and civil society groups to adopt “Social Interventions” as the norm. The Africa Development Study Centre will also be proactive in this regard by hosting workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns to enlighten the public and stakeholders on the importance of this linguistic shift.
“The task of repositioning Nigeria as a powerhouse of social and economic stability is colossal and cannot be accomplished by one individual or entity. It requires a collective effort. I call upon all stakeholders, including political parties, business leaders, and the general public, to join hands in this national rebranding effort. Support for President Tinubu’s economic initiatives must go hand-in-hand with an internal reevaluation of how we discuss and implement social change.
“By embracing this new terminology, we can foster a mindset that is aligned with long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. Such a shift will not only be semantically significant but will also have tangible impacts on the effectiveness and reach of our social and economic programs.
“As President Tinubu leads us towards a brighter economic future, let us also lead ourselves by being mindful of the language we employ, thereby enriching our national discourse and paving the way for a new chapter in Nigeria’s socio-economic story.”
