By Mercy Peter
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has called on Nigerians to harness the country’s diversity, youthful population and creativity as assets for national development, saying the country’s future depends on its ability to convert its human potential into sustainable progress.
Ikpeazu made the call in Madrid while delivering his address at an event commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The ambassador said Nigeria possessed considerable human and natural resources which, if effectively harnessed, could contribute significantly to the country’s economic transformation and strengthen its position in the international community.
He identified Nigeria’s vibrant youth population, cultural diversity and human talent among the country’s major strengths, stressing that these resources should be deployed towards building a more prosperous and secure nation.
According to him, the task of nation-building requires more than the celebration of independence anniversaries, but demands resilience, innovation and collective responsibility from citizens.
He said Nigeria’s founding nationalists and patriots demonstrated the courage and sacrifice required to secure the country’s independence, adding that their legacy placed a responsibility on subsequent generations to continue building the nation.
Ikpeazu said the 66th anniversary provided an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey since independence while renewing their commitment to unity, progress and national development.
He acknowledged that Nigeria was still confronted by economic challenges, but maintained that the country was making progress and should continue to build on its existing strengths.
“We are not satisfied with the present economic realities, but we are making progress as a people,” he said.
The ambassador said the government was pursuing reforms aimed at economic diversification, improved governance and inclusive growth, adding that the energy and creativity of young Nigerians would be critical to achieving those objectives.
He urged Nigerians to see their diversity not as a source of division but as a resource that could strengthen national development when properly harnessed.
Ikpeazu also linked Nigeria’s human capital to its international relations, saying Nigerians living abroad had an important role to play in demonstrating the country’s capacity, enterprise and resilience.
Addressing Nigerians in Spain, he described students, professionals and entrepreneurs as important representatives of the country, urging them to continue contributing positively to their host communities.
He said their achievements could strengthen the bridges between Nigeria and Spain while contributing to a positive understanding of Nigeria internationally.
The envoy further stressed the importance of partnerships with other countries in complementing Nigeria’s domestic development efforts.
He said Nigeria’s relationship with Spain had continued to expand across trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, with opportunities for further cooperation in areas including renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, technology and the creative industries.
Ikpeazu said Nigeria would continue to create opportunities for investment and business-to-business matchmaking as part of efforts to support national development.
He cited the presence of Spanish businesses in Nigeria as evidence of the potential for stronger economic engagement between the two countries.
The ambassador, however, emphasised that external partnerships could only complement, rather than replace, the responsibility of Nigerians to contribute to the country’s development.
He therefore called for greater collective responsibility among citizens, urging them to deploy their skills, creativity and enterprise towards building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
Ikpeazu congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians at home and abroad on the 66th Independence Anniversary.
He urged Nigerians to use the occasion to renew their commitment to unity and development and to build on the sacrifices of the country’s founding generation.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s human potential, diversity and youthful population could provide a strong foundation for a more prosperous future if effectively harnessed.
