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Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has voiced alarm over the mass emigration of talented young Nigerians, describing this phenomenon as a sign of a troubling loss of hope for the country.
At the launch of the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative in Abuja on Saturday, Jega urged committed citizens to work towards restoring optimism about Nigeria’s future.
He highlighted the country’s current challenges, including its status as the “poverty capital of the world” and the rise of the “Japa” trend, where young people leave for better opportunities abroad.
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“This trend symbolizes a dangerous loss of hope, one that dedicated patriots must counter by restoring faith in the country’s future,” he stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Jega noted that the post-independence period once positioned the country as a source of inspiration across Africa and among Black communities worldwide, praising the selfless leadership of the First Republic for laying a solid foundation for nation-building.
Jega also urged Nigerians to reject the notion that Nigeria is a failed state.
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“We must reject the narrative of a failed state and work to reform our systems, bridging divisions to build a nation that serves all its citizens,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Lanre Isa-Onilu, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, insisted that citizens deserve more than empty promises.
He stressed the need for government actions to reflect commitments made to the people.
“To keep our commitments, we must ensure that our implementations reflect the promises made to our citizens. The issue of leadership is intertwined with the challenge of managing relationships,” Idris noted. He asserted that citizens need tangible results, not just promises.
Idris also discussed plans to nationalize cartoon content to better reflect Nigeria’s cultural values.
He pointed out the importance of engaging children with media that resonates with their heritage, announcing an upcoming animation festival in Lagos to showcase local talent.
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URNI Patron, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, highlighted that Nigeria’s advancement depends on leadership characterized by integrity and competence.
He called for a revival of the strong connections that once united Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines, attributing the nation’s socio-economic challenges to a lack of effective leadership.
Tukur urged leaders to prioritize job creation, resource mobilization, and national unity to address these pressing issues.
