Dr Olakunle Soriyan, a U.S.-based author, has urged Nigerian youths to take responsibility for their future by building their capacity and preparing themselves for the challenges ahead. He gave this advice while delivering the keynote address at the third annual conference of the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI), themed “Rise Up Patriots”, on Saturday in Abuja. Soriyan emphasized that Nigerian youths must understand that their future largely depends on the decisions they make and their willingness to take responsibility for the consequences.
Soriyan stated that Nigeria is built to make individuals take necessary actions, and if one chooses not to go to school, the decision and consequences are all theirs. He added that upon attaining the age of 18, individuals should no longer depend on entitlement but focus on developing their capacity to succeed. According to Soriyan, when individuals reach 18 years, they have lost all rights to entitlement to any system, and parenting ends at 18.
Ambassador Hassan Tukur, MFR, a Patron of URNI, also urged Nigerians to shift their attention from merely discussing the country’s challenges to taking practical steps towards making it better. Tukur, represented by Ambassador Jamil Waziri, stressed that national development requires more than expressing opinions and sharing messages on social media. He commended URNI for organizing the conference and emphasized the need for citizens to translate their concerns about Nigeria into meaningful actions.
Tukur noted that Nigerians are not short of opinions about developing Nigeria, but these opinions are only shared on WhatsApp daily. He emphasized that citizens must do more than sharing messages online and should choose one task within their reach daily to make Nigeria better. According to Tukur, that is how countries develop. The conference aimed to encourage Nigerians to take active roles in shaping the country's future.
Award-winning broadcast journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, also spoke at the conference, urging Nigerians to take an active interest in holding public office holders accountable. Okinbaloye stated that accountability should not be left to journalists alone, adding that citizens at all levels have a responsibility to ask questions and demand explanations from their leaders. This, he believes, is crucial for ensuring good governance and leadership in the country.
The conference, themed “Rise Up Patriots”, aimed to encourage Nigerians to take responsibility for their country's development. The Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI) organized the event to promote national development and encourage citizens to take practical steps towards making Nigeria better. The keynote address and other speeches at the conference emphasized the need for collective action and individual responsibility in shaping Nigeria's future.
The speakers at the conference stressed that building capacity, taking responsibility, and holding leaders accountable are crucial for Nigeria's development. They urged Nigerian youths to take the lead in driving positive change and to focus on developing their skills and capacities to succeed. The conference provided a platform for Nigerians to engage in discussions on national development and to explore practical solutions to the country's challenges.
Key points
- Dr Olakunle Soriyan urges Nigerian youths to build their capacity and prepare for challenges ahead.
- Ambassador Hassan Tukur emphasizes the need for Nigerians to take practical steps towards making the country better.
- Seun Okinbaloye stresses the importance of holding public office holders accountable.
