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The International Friendship League (IFL), Old Festac, has blamed Nigeria’s development challenges on poor leadership, corruption and the elevation of mediocrity above merit, insisting that the country has enough human and natural resources to prosper.
The group spoke at a symposium in Lagos, held as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The symposium, themed, “A Call to Citizenship Transformation,” also called for responsible citizenship, ethical leadership and a return to values that place national interest above personal, ethnic and sectional considerations.
IFL representative, Mervels Abange, said Nigeria’s persistent problems could not be blamed on a shortage of resources, but on the way successive leaders had managed them.
According to him, corruption, ethnicity, tribalism, poor leadership and the preference for mediocrity over merit had combined to slow the country’s progress.
“Nigeria has sufficient resources to become a prosperous nation. The problem is leadership, management of those resources and the absence of a clear vision.”
Abange argued that leadership anchored on integrity and the fear of God would help create an environment in which citizens could thrive.
“If a man who fears God is in a position of authority, the people will rejoice, but when one who does not fear God is in power, the people will suffer.”
He stressed that national transformation could not be left to government alone, urging Nigerians to embrace a new orientation and accept individual responsibility for rebuilding the country.
Abange said citizens must rethink their attitude to national development and revive values that once encouraged hard work, discipline and advancement on merit.
Recalling his years in the military, he said opportunities previously existed for personnel to improve their education and welfare, adding that such systems of support and advancement had deteriorated over time.
He nevertheless expressed optimism that Nigeria could overcome its difficulties if both leaders and citizens changed their attitudes and recommitted themselves to nation-building.
“There is still hope. As we are praying, we humble ourselves and pray that God will heal our land. That is my belief,” he said.
Another speaker, Taiwo Akinwale, urged Nigerians to adopt what he described as the three principles of “Yearn, Learn and Earn.”
Akinwale said the desire to succeed should push individuals to acquire knowledge and useful skills, which could in turn create opportunities for personal and economic advancement.
He warned against complacency after attaining a measure of success, saying continuous learning was essential to growth.
According to him, earning should not be understood only in terms of money, as people could also earn positions, opportunities, influence and a better quality of life through sustained effort and self-development.
He urged Nigerians not to abandon their aspirations after attaining positions of comfort, stressing that continuous improvement remained essential to fulfilling individual and national potential.
The symposium drew participants from different backgrounds and focused on the responsibilities of both leaders and citizens in building a more accountable, productive and united Nigeria.
