ASAP Holds Inaugural Public Discuss

Academics Stand Against Poverty, ASAP, an international association focused on helping researchers and teachers enhance their impact on poverty, on Tuesday held its inaugural public discuss in West Africa.

The public discuss, which took place at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, focused on the theme, “Political Campaign Funding and The Looming Tsunami of Poverty.”

According to ASAP West African Chapter, the NGO’s main goal is helping academics contribute to the eradication of severe poverty worldwide and to help ensure that poverty policy and development efforts are guided by rigorous empirical and normative research.

The host of the discuss, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye of the Department of Mass Communication, UNILAG, said ASAP settled on the theme because “Nigeria is moving towards the Zero hour of elections 2015.”

The keynote speaker of the event, Professor Akin Oyebode, in his speech said it was imperative to discuss the topic in view of the forthcoming election and the role political funding plays in deepening poverty in a society.

He submitted that “public service should not be at all cost but should be open to all men and women of noble intention, commitment to the people’s cause and requisite goodwill.”

Those present at the event include, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Dr. Femi Aribisala, and Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo.