The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigerians to revive the visionary spirit of the nation’s founding fathers by demanding principled leadership capable of transforming the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Wike painted a sobering picture of Nigeria’s current challenges while outlining a path forward grounded in courageous leadership, institutional reform, and a return to core values.
Wike described Nigeria’s early post-independence dream as one of unity and prosperity based on merit and justice—a dream largely betrayed by decades of impunity, corruption, and mediocrity.
He lamented the decay in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and the economy, contrasting Nigeria’s stagnation with India’s technological progress since 1960. He also criticized societal values that celebrate stolen wealth and tolerate corruption even in religious settings.
Despite these challenges, Wike expressed hope, urging young Nigerians to see themselves as vital stakeholders in rebuilding the nation. He emphasized that the Nigeria of their dreams will be built not by heroes on horseback, but by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
His vision for national renewal rests on strengthening the rule of law and public institutions, prioritizing meritocratic leadership, reforming education and infrastructure, and restoring integrity in public service.
Quoting Chinua Achebe’s The Trouble with Nigeria, Wike stressed that leadership remains the core problem and called for a change in the type of leaders Nigerians accept and produce. He highlighted democracy’s demands for continuous commitment, sacrifice, and vigilance, urging that justice be impartial and that the judiciary remain independent.
Education was underscored as the foundation for progress, with praise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and initiatives like the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand access to tertiary education.
Wike also called for healthcare to be treated as a fundamental right supported by functional infrastructure and motivated professionals.
On the economy, Wike advocated for inclusive prosperity, job creation, and economic empowerment to eradicate poverty and promote self-reliance. Security and national cohesion were identified as essential to peace and progress, with a call to address the root causes of unrest and foster unity through respect and inclusion.
He emphasized Nigeria’s diversity as a strength, urging unity built on trust, transparency, and dialogue rather than division. The need for a moral and cultural renaissance to restore integrity and shared values, along with stronger local governance to bring development to grassroots communities, was also highlighted.
Wike concluded with a powerful call for Nigerians to rise, act, and believe in the country’s future, asserting that Nigeria’s greatness depends on the courage and commitment of its people today.
The lecture, an annual event at OAU honoring distinguished public servants, was attended by university officials, traditional rulers, students, and members of the university governing council.
