₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu on Friday made a direct appeal to Nigerian youths to remain in the country and contribute to its development, telling them that Nigeria’s future belonged to those who stayed to solve its problems rather than those who chose to leave.

In his Democracy Day address, his fourth since assuming office in May 2023, the President said, “To our young people: Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.”

The appeal comes against the backdrop of sustained “japa” emigration trends that have seen large numbers of young, skilled Nigerians, particularly in technology, healthcare and academia, relocate abroad in search of better economic prospects.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s democratic dividend must now translate into tangible economic outcomes for its citizens, particularly the youth.

“Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he said, pointing to initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the National Agricultural Development Fund’s deployment of 10,000 tractors over five years, and the certification of over 1,000 SMEs for export as part of efforts to expand domestic opportunity.

He said the generation now coming of age carried a distinct historical responsibility.

He stated, “Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence. The generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.”

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu has built a notorious reputation for making statements that rarely reflect his actions

TemplarLandry:
This is serious.
This is interesting.
Let's see how it goes.

CodeTemplar:
idiotic at the very best. Otumokpor no be job. Hunger dey kill.

Gentledove2001:
A very foolish statement from a senseless president that doesn't care about his people's suffering. Thank God i don japa since.

HacheNoire:
A inspiring one coming from His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)

We all have sole responsibility to invest our resources, skills, patronage and patriotism in our own country.

No one is going to that for us and we must prioritize where we call home.

Thank you for re-emphasizing. It’s shows you are the greatest leader that ever walked the surface of the Earth.