Nigerians have been urged not to lose hope in the country as her current travails would be a thing of the past.
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun stated this at the 59th Independence Day celebration held at the M.K.O Abiola Stadiuum, Kuto, Abeokuta.
He said despite the socio-economic and security challenges, the “Nigerian spirit” was still keeping the nation going.
Prince Abiodun, who paid glowing tributes to the nation’s founding fathers for their untiring efforts in seeing to the develoment and unity of Nigeria, said 59 years of nationhood was fraught with civil war, military rules and political upheavals.
“For our country to overcome her challenges, Nigerians must be patriotic, put behind ethnic differences and realise that we are Nigerians before any other affiliations.
“We should love our country and discharge with commitment whatsoever that is committed to our care,” he said.
He advised those seeking for greener pastures in other countries to stay back to salvage the nation, just as it was imperative for both the leaders and followers to join hands in the task of nation-building.
The Governor said as partners in the Nigeria project, his administtation would tap into the vast natural resources and the great potentials that abound in the State and maximise the benefits to make life more abundant to the people.
“No goverment has the monoopoly of resources to engender a wholesome and sustainable development. There is need for collaboration with other stakeholders, especially the Private Sector to build our State,” the Governor noted.
He said to achieve collaborative goals, his administration has launched a job portal to register the unemployed, established Ogun TECHUB to launch the State into the digital world, reposition the education sector, while health institutions are receiving facelift with the rehabilitation and provision of modern equipment in hospitals across the State.
Prince Abiodun noted that his administration was poised to turn around the State Environment and improve the landscape by upgrading the State Master Plan, renew designated industrial hubs with the provision of power and good infrastructure by leveraging on gas pipelines that crisscross the State.
He disclosed that the State now has a Business Advisory Coucil, while a Public Private Partnership Office has also been established.
The Governor, while assuring the people of better days ahead, promised that his governernment would create the enabling evironment for individuals to achieve their aspirations as no one would be unfairly treated as a result of political, ethnic, religious or social status.