TINUBU TO CORPORATE NIGERIA: I’VE NO EXCUSES TO UNDERPERFORM, I CAMPAIGNED FOR THE JOB
in the bush, and that is all I have been focused on.
“It is your effort, resourcefulness, and dedication that has brought us here. The results will not come suddenly, you have endured the campaign, you must endure more.
“I assure you that a very bright light beckons for you and your children. Nigeria will prosper, and we will all reap the benefits. We will work with determination and persistence.”
While urging citizens to continue to have faith in Nigeria by supporting his administration to succeed for the benefit of all, the president noted that, "Europe and America did not get to where they are today in one day, but through persistence and hard work, which takes time and consistent focus.
“Pray for Nigeria, think Nigeria. This is not play time. Let us believe in ourselves. We must ask questions. What is happening to our solid minerals? No rival wants you to be bigger than them. We must be dogged. We have to sort out our problem ourselves,” the President said.
Earlier, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Director-General of the defunct PCC, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Director-General of the defunct ICC, thanked the supporters for their perseverance, assuring them that the president had not forgotten all their efforts and would not disappoint them.
Meanwhile, Shettima has said innovation was essential to attaining Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the top countries in the world.
He urged Nigerians to bring up innovative ideas and actions to advance the ongoing transformation agenda in the country.
Speaking at the third i-FAIR cohorts graduation ceremony of the nine-month mentorship programme for budding innovators and entrepreneurs yesterday in Abuja, he implored Nigerians to support the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) initiative to advance the transformation agenda in the country.
Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice-President, Mr Tope Fasua, commended the graduands for boosting the Nigerian population efforts to achieve the transformation agenda of the federal government.
“We live in a kinetically dynamic and digital world, where we are seeing today’s reality and tomorrow’s innovation by power of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, internet and others.
“We commend the Innov8Hub for what it has been doing so far amongst our youth and the innovative at heart. We have seen numerous innovative display, many of which have been commercialised and are having impact on Nigeria and beyond.
“We believe this is merely the beginning, I appeal to all and sundry to show maximal support to the idea behind the hub, as it is indeed transformative. Our very survival in a fast paced world depends on it.”
The Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said the programme comprised twelve components spanning health, climate change, and agriculture, and embodies the spirit of innovation and resilience.
“I-FAIR was established by the Israeli embassy in collaboration with the Nigerian government; this initiative epitomises the collaboration and innovation pivotal to the IsraelNigeria relationship.
“President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda resonates deeply with the ethos of the i-FAIR programme in championing empowerment, growth, and prosperity for Nigeria.
“This is with a focus on nurturing the talents of our youth, this programme aligns seamlessly with President Tinubu’s vision of propelling Nigeria towards excellence, notably in digital economy where job creation is paramount.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Economic, Trade and Investment at the ministry, traced the success of the programme to the partnership between Israel and Nigeria.
“This is evidence of innovation. We have no doubt this government and the administration standout as the most innovative government Nigeria ever had.
“It is pertinent to mention that the idea of I-FAIR is predicated on the need to overcome domestic challenges with innovative made in-Nigeria solutions tailored around inspiring Nigeria to become a startup nation,” Tuggar said.
Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said it was important to prioritise transformation agenda to achieve meaningful growth.
“We must prioritise the complete deployment of fibre active network which Nigeria must achieve in the next two-three years and we have backing of the President,” he said.