By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, assured Nigerians that their sacrifices will not be in vain, saying the promises made by the Tinubu administration will be fulfilled.
Shettima also said the Nigeria desired by all Nigerians will be realized through the active collaboration of all citizens with the Bola Tinubu administration as it works on fulfilling its campaign promises.
He gave the assurance yesterday while speaking during the 63rd Independence Day Anniversary Public Lecture, held at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the theme “Actualising the Vision of Renewed Hope for Socioeconomic Development through Effective Leadership.”
The Vice President noted that in the last 63 years of the nation’s existence, the driving force of the people had been the realization that achieving the collective dream and surmounting present challenges required sacrifice from all citizens, especially the leadership, sacrificing with the hope of building a sustainable future for generations to come.
He, however, assured Nigerians that their sacrifices for a thriving nation will not be in vain as the Tinubu administration has set administrative models in its Renewed Hope Agenda that will see to developments across sectors, using available resources to achieve national prosperity.
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“Your Excellences, ladies and gentlemen, the future of a great nation is not determined by the occurrence of their socioeconomic challenge. The future of every nation rests on the intention, sincerity, and innovative ideas of its leaders and their commitment to implementing them.
“This is why President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda remains an oasis in a scorching sun. We cannot renew the hope of the nation unless we deliver on our promise to drive food security and eradicate poverty.
“We cannot foster economic growth and nurture job creation unless we facilitate access to capital, enhance national security, and optimize the business environment for our enterprises. We are going to uphold the rule of law and fight corruption to design the Nigeria of our dreams. We can’t achieve any of these unless each citizen remains a strategic partner in pursuit of our ultimate national interests.
“At 63, we recognize that what has sustained us and propelled us forward is our collective belief that overcoming the challenges we have inherited necessitates sacrifices, especially from us, the leaders.
“We are driven by the realisation that these sacrifices are not for nothing. They are investments in a brighter future, investments that will redeem the future, and the fortune of our great generation and guarantee the well-being of generations to come.
“Your Excellency’s, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the present administration also recognizes that the sacrifices made by each Nigerian will never be in vain. Such solidarity with the economy revival strategy, from the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene landscapes of Enugu has inspired our focus on diverse sectors, from agriculture to digital technology, from healthcare to education”, the Vice President said.
According to Shettima, the Tinubu administration was not oblivious that there would be hurdles on its way towards achieving its campaign promises for Nigerians but noted that the government’s faith in achieving success had been built on the realisation that Nigerians are never broken by temporary setback.
Earlier in his welcome address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, explained that the theme of the anniversary lecture was intended to shed more light on critical areas of Nigeria’s socioeconomic potentials that could be explored and developed through policies and programs enunciated by the Tinubu-led administration.
This, according to him, is critical because of the dynamic nature of the country’s socio-economic environment and the global systems.
Also present at the event was the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Esan; Ministers of Information, Mr Mohammed Idris; Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev; FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike; Budget and Economic Planning, Alh. Atiku Bagudu; Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake; Police Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam; Steel Development, Mr Shuaibu Audu, and Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, among others.
Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as some members of the diplomatic community also attended the event.
