Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has expressed concern over the exodus of talented young Nigerians.
According to him, this trend and the current struggles in the country represent a dangerous loss of hope.
Speaking at the launch of the “Nigeria Unveiling and Rebranding Initiative” in Abuja on Saturday, Mr. Jega urged dedicated patriots to counter this by restoring faith in the country’s future. He appealed.
He said the country’s current predicament, including its international label as the poverty capital of the world and the increasing exodus of young talent known as the ‘Japa’ phenomenon, is alarming.
“This trend represents a dangerous loss of hope, and dedicated patriots must counter it by restoring faith in our nation’s future.”
Mr. Jega praised the selfless leadership of the First Republic, noting that Nigeria’s post-independence period was one in which the country became a beacon of hope across Africa and an inspiration to black communities around the world. did.
He added that the leaders had laid a solid foundation for nation-building.
The former INEC chairman urged Nigerians to reject claims that Nigeria is a failed state.
“We must reject the narrative of a failed nation and work to reform our institutions, bridge divides, and build a nation that serves all its citizens," he said. ”
In his speech, Mohammed Idriss, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the people deserve more than just a promise.
The Minister, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Isa-Onilu, said promises made to the people must be fulfilled.
“If we are to keep our commitments, we must ensure that our commitments to the people are reflected. The issue of leadership is intertwined with the challenge of managing relationships,” he said.
“This is why constructive management is essential. It is what our country promised its people in exchange for their trust. We recognize that our people deserve more than just promises. They need tangible results from the projects we work on.”
He also said there are plans to nationalize manga content to ensure the promotion of the cultural values of the people.
“With children consuming media for hours every day, it is important that we nationalize cartoon content so that at least 70% reflects our traditional values and culture,” the minister said. said.
“We are investing in animation to create content that resonates with Nigerian children.A festival dedicated to animation will soon be held in Lagos where creators can showcase their work. We encourage participation and support in these initiatives as they play an important role in promoting our cultural heritage.”
Ambassador Hassan Tukur, Patron of URNI, stressed that Nigeria’s progress depends on leadership rooted in character and competence.
He looked back to a time when Nigerians forged strong ties that transcended ethnic and religious boundaries, and called for a revival of these values.
Tukur blamed the country’s socio-economic challenges on the lack of strong leadership and called on leaders to focus on job creation, resource mobilization and national unity.
