Oluremi Tinubu: Nigeria’s Future Hinges on Collective Unity in Face of Challenges

• Kukah tasks INEC on credible polls in 2027

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu said the future of Nigeria hinged on the ability of the citizens to unite in the face of growing global and domestic challenges. She made comment yesterday at the Leadership Annual Conference and Award 2025 held in Abuja.

Tinubu, who spoke at the event, with the theme, “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria,” entreated the populace to continue to work together irrespective of differences in religion and region.

She stated, “The future of our nation depends on our willingness to work together across cultural and religious differences for the good of all. For a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

She also thanked those who helped her to attain her milestone, particularly women and young people, who inspired hope in the country.

“I do not take the honour alone. I dedicate this award to every citizen who believes that selfless service and humanness can truly change lives,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu commended Chairman of Leadership Newspaper, Mrs. Zainab Nda-Isaiah, for sustaining and expanding the vision of the organisation’s late founding chairman, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

She stated, “I believe that looking down today, he would be proud of you for keeping the fire of this organisation burning.”

The first lady praised the newspaper’s commitment to journalism that informs, inspires, and strengthens democracy.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure clean and credible elections in the face of the hoopla surrounding the Electoral Act.

Kukah said, “The rest of Africa can no longer wait until Nigeria has surrendered to one piece of ground. They will not wait for us to decide whether we translate, transform, relay, dispatch, disseminate, or transfer the results of our elections by podcast, by telecast, by video cast, or by live stream. By God, by whatever means, give us clean and credible elections.”

Kukah stated that yesterday’s conference was about Nigeria and where it was heading and about honest conversations around the political status and sustainable development of Nigeria, Africa and the world.

“As we present the awards today, we recognise Nigerians and institutions whose work connects resilience, innovation, and service to humanity first and foremost,” he said.

In her keynote address, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Amina Mohammed, said the time had come for Africa and other middle-power nations to close ranks, strengthen their institutions, and assert a coherent voice on the global stage.

She also emphasised the need for African leaders to fix the continent amid rising geopolitical tensions and global disruption.