Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), has urged state governments nationwide to allow lottery activities on their soil.
He made the appeal during the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith’s Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, which was organized in partnership with the humanitarian group International Alert.
Adeyanju claims: “In Nigeria, we frequently complain about everything while doing little to address the problem. I am aware that a lot of false information exists around lotteries. We use the lottery money that is sent to the federal government to support GOOD CAUSES.
He clarified that the lottery’s earnings are used to address Nigerians’ needs in vital sectors like agriculture, health, education, sport, water interventions, the environment, and humanitarian efforts.
“Earlier, we spoke on what climate change has caused due to scarce resources,” the Executive Secretary added, highlighting the gaming industry’s responsibility in solving climate change challenges. The gaming sector, which helps countries all over the world, including Nigeria, thrive, can be used to address some of the problems related to the crisis caused by climate change that is wreaking havoc in northern Nigeria.
According to a press release issued by Arowolo Solomon Alaba, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary (Media & Corporate Communications), the NLTF head also revealed that the lottery’s proceeds had helped numerous communities by being used to fund a range of initiatives.
“We have already helped many communities who have written to us asking for help in various areas, and we are still working to help others using lottery proceeds coming to the Federal Government,” he added.
Adeyanju urged states that have prohibited lottery operations to reevaluate lifting the ban and work with the NLTF’s state branches to ensure smooth operations. He emphasized that the Federal Government established the agency to carry out GOOD CAUSES, which includes some of the state-mandated interventions in addressing climate change-related issues.
“We are asking Nigerian states that have attempted to outlaw the lottery to kindly change their minds. They will contribute to a decrease in juvenile delinquency by reevaluating their choices. Through the nationwide sensitization campaign we launched this year, we have started advocating for responsible gambling and lottery,” he said.
He claimed that the call to action comes at a crucial moment as Nigeria struggles with socioeconomic issues and conflicts brought on by climate change.
“State governments can access this crucial funding source by adopting lottery operations, which will ultimately help their most vulnerable citizens,” the Executive Secretary stated.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Most Reverend Dr. D.C. Okoh, Sen. Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, and numerous other dignitaries graced the occasion.