As Nigeria marks the 65th anniversary of her independence from Britain amid the pangs of a prostrate economy, a philanthropist and public affairs commentator, Mr. Lucky Ehiwuogwu Monye, has called for sacrifice and patience among Nigerians.
Monye, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Monaco Ventures Nigeria Limited, in a telephone chat from Abuja, acknowledged that Nigeria had not lived up to the billing of its founding fathers’ lofty dreams.
He cited the prostrate economy , the rising incidence of insecurity in the country and the ebbing popular faith in public institutions and leadership as evidences of the underwhelming performance of the country, 65 years after it attained independence .
But he said that as unjustifiable as the situation remained especially in the light of the huge natural and other resources available to the country to pursue its accelerated wholesome development, Nigerians, particularly the youth, should not be frustrated or deterred by the prevailing circumstances.
According to him, while Nigerians do not deserve to contend with underwhelming performance, they must also not lose sight of the fact that there are no sustainable short cuts to effective nation building, just as no nation is fully developed.
Monye added that hardly any nation made irreversible development breakthroughs without contending with severe challenges, and that Nigerias’ developmental challenges, even though largely self- inflicted, were not beyond effective resolution by consistent honest and potent efforts .
He called for understanding and collaboration across all divides among all Nigerians, for enhanced unity which, he said, was the main plank to predicate sustainable development efforts.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Monye Ehiwuogwu Lucky Foundation, added that Nigeria, in spite of her plethora of development challenges, had made remarkable progress in infrastructure growth and by remaining one entity, in spite of the huge strains caused by the Civil War and the ongoing insecurity and ethnic activism among its constituent groups.
Notably, he added, Nigerians, in spite of their environmental challenges, remain world beaters in core areas of human engagement, including education, health, science, technology, administration and sports.
He urged Nigerians to keep faith with the Nigerian Project, and to always strive to remain disciplined and productive.
Monye equally advised leaders to hearken more to the earnest yearnings of the citizens to earn their confidence and collaboration.