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The Digest:

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has issued a stark warning to African governments, labeling celebrated GDP growth figures as "worthless" when they fail to translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens, highlighting a profound disconnect between macroeconomic data and daily reality.

Key Points:
  • Osinbajo spoke at the 65th anniversary of the Ford Foundation in West Africa.
  • He stated that Africa's high GDP growth coexists with the lowest quality of life.
  • The former VP revealed his frustration with public skepticism toward growth figures.
  • He called for a shift from trickle-down economics to bottom-up investment.
  • Social justice, not just growth, must be the foundation of economic planning.
  • He cited Bangladesh, Rwanda, and Lagos as examples of inclusive governance.
  • Corruption was highlighted as a severe form of social injustice.
This critique reveals the quiet storm brewing within governance, where the celebrated numbers on a page are increasingly divorced from the lived experience of the people they are meant to represent.

Sources: The Guardian