4 days Ago By Guardian Nigeria
• Abdulsalami advocates timely completion of Zik centre Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has charged Africa’s leaders at all levels on the revival of the ideals of broadmindedness, inclusivity, pan-Africanism, and selflessness espoused by the foremost nationalist and former President of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, to move the continent forward. He warned that Africa’s youths, projected to reach 830 to 850 million by 2050, could either be a blessing or a nightmare, depending on how the continent’s leaders at every level can invest in youth development and job creation. Mbah stated these at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, during the 13th Annual Zik Lecture Series themed, “Zik’s Legacies and the Rising Social Movements in Africa: Rethinking Regional Integration in Africa,” delivered by the African Union High Representative and former President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambers.
The governor recalled that Azikiwe’s broadminded nature saw him champion the emergence of non-Easterners as elected leaders in the defunct region and Pan-Africanism, which deservedly earned him the moniker, ‘Zik of Africa’. “But Zik’s appeal was not just regarding the fact that he was broad-minded. He was a beacon of selflessness and understood clearly that public office meant service to the people.
“There was never any hint of hubris in his life. He devoted his life to building an inclusive society. And he didn’t just pay lip service to that ideal; he demonstrated that commitment through his actions.
The governor, however, regretted the erosion of such values and the consequent slow pace of integration, including infrastructural integration among the peoples of the continent decades after. Mbah called for robust human capital development and job creation, otherwise, Africa’s and Nigeria’s bulging youth populations could become a nightmare. Meanwhile, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to complete the Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Centre in Zungeru, Niger State.
He also noted that completing the centre would preserve Dr Azikiwe’s legacy and promote national integration, cohesion, and unity. Abdulsalami disclosed this in Abuja, during the 2024 Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Awards Lecture, with the theme, ‘Nigeria’s Governance Model-Prospects And Perspectives,’ said that Azikiwe is one of the greatest founders of Nigeria. It would be recalled that Zik’s annual lecture, held on the birthday anniversary of Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe, commemorates the legacy of the nationalist and his unwavering commitment to a united Nigeria..
