By joshua Nigeria At 66: Nigerians Urged
To Join A Renewed Commitment To Revive Dream
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
Nigerians have been urged to join a renewed commitment to revive the Nigeria of our Dream and ensure that from ballot to better life, 2027 delivers good governance to the ordinary Nigerian.
The Managing Director of Independent Television and Radio, Engineer Elves Obaseki, stated this during 2026 ITV and Radio Pre-Independence Lecture, which took place at Ehizua Hub and Event Centre, along Airport road, Benin City, Edo State capital.
In his welcome address, Obaseki, urged Nigerians to join a renewed commitment to revive the Nigerian Dream and ensure that from ballot to better life, 2027 delivers good governance to the ordinary Nigerian.
He said we should ask ourselves: what kind of Nigeria do we want to bequeath to our children? A Nigeria where the dream is valid for all, not just for a few? A Nigeria where our vote brings hope, security and justice? A Nigeria where the youth can dream and achieve? “The answer lies with us all; the government, the governed, our civil societies and the media.”
The guest Speaker, Femi Falana (SAN), delivering his lecture on the topic: “The Nigerian Dream: Still Valid or Dead In Arrival” with the Theme: “From Ballot to Better Life, What Should 2027 Actually Deliver”,
said the struggle for the Nigeria Independence was hard and as a result, no city in the country can boast of freedom fighters like Chief Anthony Enahoro , Michael Imuodu who did all their best to ensuring that the freedom of human right was fought for.
According to him, “The independence of Nigeria, the struggle was not won on a platter of gold. Here today, I am going to chanel such meaningful knowledge of the struggle of our people. And no other city in Nigeria, from my study can boast of haven produced freedom fighters as much as Edo State that led the Nigerian people to demand for independence before 1960.
“What is the Nigerian dream? For some people, it is the hope of owning a house. For others, it is the opportunity to secure good education, obtain gainful employment, establish a successful business, raise a family in safety and dignity, or simply live a life in which hard work is rewarded with a reasonable standard of living.
“For the young Nigerian, it may be the hope of building a successful career without having to leave the country in search of opportunity. For the farmer, it may mean having access to land, infrastructure, markets and security, so that you can go to your farm without kidnappers harassing you in the land.
Adding that, For the entrepreneur, it may mean operating a business without having to navigate unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. On film, the success of a business depends more upon political connections rather than enterprise. The Nigerian dream is the belief that Nigeria can become a country in which citizenship is not a disadvantage as it is now.
According to him, “It is the belief that a young Nigerian can wake up in the morning and believe that peace or a future is not predetermined by corruption, insecurity, poverty, unemployment, discrimination or political connections. It is ultimately a dream of dignity, opportunity, justice and accountable government. And that dream is not an unreasonable one.”
Concluding, the Guest Speaker, Femi Falana (SAN) stated that there is need for Child Right Law which he said would assist the children of the poor.
He urged all to ask question as those in government have no right to keep or hold on to information. “You must have the right to ask question and if anyone does not allow you to ask question, let us know,” he stated.