By James Sunday, FCAI, MNIIA, Former Head of Media, Nigeria and Immigration Service Migration Management Expert
There is a popular saying: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That statement should not just be a patriotic cliché, it must become a turning point for every able-bodied Nigerian, especially now.
In these times of tough decisions and necessary reforms, what Nigeria needs is for her citizens to rise beyond complaints and criticism and begin to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and bring their expertise into sectors where transformation is long overdue. From health to education, energy to security, we all have a role to play.
Take a cue from Aliko Dangote, whose personal motto, “Nothing is Impossible,” has guided his success story and fueled Nigeria’s industrial drive. That same resilience and belief in possibility is evident in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (PBAT) administration, bold enough to take unpopular but necessary decisions, such as the removal of the fraudulent fuel subsidy regime.
We now know, from the revelations that followed that courageous move, just how deeply the system was exploited, billions of naira looted by a network of interests who masked corruption in the name of subsidy. The removal didn’t just save Nigeria from financial hemorrhage; it also reintroduced transparency into the oil sector and gave the public a glimpse into the rot within. That is the kind of leadership that signals renewed hope, but that hope needs every citizen’s commitment to blossom into reality.
True change demands a price: trust, sacrifice, patriotism, discipline, resilience, and perhaps most importantly, follow-through. If leaders say it, they must do it. It is only by “walking the talk” that public trust can be earned and sustained. PBAT has shown the will, but he cannot do it alone.
Every sector in Nigeria must begin to align with this renewed sense of purpose. Our economy must be re-engineered, not just through policies, but through partnerships with forward-thinking minds like Prof. Benedict Oramah of Afreximbank, Tony Elumelu, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and global voices like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. These are not just names; they are proof that Nigeria has the talent and intellect to reinvent itself, if only we let expertise lead over politics.
Universities must return to their place as citadels of research and innovation. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies must be manned by professionals, not political appointees without a clear understanding of the sectors they are meant to manage. Appointments must be based on capacity, competence, and commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, not political compensation. Anyone found using public office for political games should be shown the door, publicly and decisively.
Governance must produce results. When Nigerians can see and touch the impact of good governance, campaign slogans become credible. Development is visible. Hope becomes tangible.
And to our leaders in opposition, constructive criticism, not destructive politics, is essential. Democracy thrives on accountability, not antagonism. Nigeria doesn’t just need debates; it needs solutions.
To Nigerians in the diaspora, Chimamanda, Okonjo-Iweala, and countless others, thank you for flying the flag high. To our financial and industrial giants back home, Dangote, Oramah, Elumelu, Ovia, Otedola, Rabiu, more grease to your elbows. You’ve shown what’s possible when Nigerians take themselves, and their country, seriously.
The world is watching. And the world is waiting for Nigeria.
In conclusion, #NigeriaMeansBusiness, and now more than ever, Nigerians must mean business too. Let us rise with the spirit of giants, because we are not just the “Giant of Africa” by name, we are meant to lead, to shape, and to thrive.
James Sunday is also the Chief Executive Officer, Hallvive Media and Communications Limited, Abuja, Nigeria.
Email:[email protected].