Nigeria At 65: Beyond Celebration, A Call To Reclaim The Nation’s Promise
By NJORIGE LYNUS
AT 65, Nigeria stands not only as Africa’s most populous nation but as a testament to resilience amid historical contradictions, colonial burdens, and decades of turbulent governance. Yet, true commemoration must go beyond festivity; it requires sober reflection on the persistent crises undermining national dignity and progress.
The nation remains shackled by insecurity that makes life fragile, corruption that corrodes public trust, and policies shaped more by elite interests than the collective good. Our youths face mass unemployment, while a failing education system deprives the country of its most vital resource—human capital. Dependence on foreign loans and imports erodes sovereignty, mortgaging the future of generations yet unborn. Weak institutions, compromised elections, and a judiciary often swayed by impunity have left democracy limping and justice elusive.
At 65, Nigeria should not still stagger under these recurring failures. This anniversary must therefore be a clarion call to leaders and citizens alike: to demand a country where security is guaranteed, corruption is delegitimized, education is empowering, institutions are autonomous, justice is impartial, and democracy is participatory.
Nigeria’s transformation will not come by rhetoric but through deliberate action and the resolve of a conscious citizenry refusing to surrender the dream of a just, prosperous, and truly democratic republic. Only then can the nation rise from its wounded state to become a beacon of hope for Africa and the world.
#NigeriaAt65 #IndependenceDay #ReclaimThePromise
