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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, has urged Nigerians to embrace unity, tolerance and a shared commitment to the common good as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians at home and abroad, the CJN said 66 years of nationhood provided an opportunity to reflect on the country’s journey, the challenges it had overcome and the work that remained.
She said Nigeria’s story had been marked by difficulty and uncertainty, but also by resilience, creativity and an enduring faith in the country’s promise.
“Through it all, the Nigerian spirit has remained a source of strength,” she said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said the strength of a nation was measured not only by its economic or material progress, but also by the quality of its institutions, the fairness with which its laws were administered and the trust citizens placed in one another and in those entrusted with public responsibility.
Describing the Judiciary as the guardian of the rule of law and an essential pillar of the country’s constitutional democracy, she reaffirmed its commitment to the fair, impartial and timely administration of justice.
According to her, public confidence in the justice system depended on the integrity, independence and humanity with which justice was administered.
The CJN urged Nigerians to cherish their common identity and approach their differences with understanding and tolerance.
She said the nation’s diversity, guided by mutual respect and a sense of common purpose, should remain a source of strength rather than division.
She also urged Nigerians to remember those whose sacrifices in various fields of national service had helped preserve the country’s freedom and sustain its democracy.
The best way to honour them, she said, was for every citizen to play their part, however modest, in leaving Nigeria “stronger, more just and more united” for future generations.
Speaking on behalf of the entire Nigerian Judiciary and herself, the CJN wished Nigerians a peaceful and memorable anniversary.
“May the Federal Republic of Nigeria continue to prosper and may the hopes and aspirations of her people find greater fulfilment in the years ahead,” she said.
