Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has called for a united and deliberate effort by progressive forces across the country to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s rebirth, declaring that the future of the nation depends on the choices made by the present generation.
Speaking at The Platform, an annual national discourse held in Lagos to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Governor Soludo described Nigeria as “God’s greatest gift to the black race,” emphasizing that the nation has the potential to lead Africa into a new era of global influence.
“I am a Pan-Africanist, still dreaming of the United States of Africa, with Nigeria at its core,” Soludo declared. “I believe that this century is ours to claim, and to dominate the next century. But it all depends on what foundation our generation lays today for our future generations.”
Quoting renowned philosopher Frantz Fanon, he reminded the audience that “each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it, or betray it,” urging Nigerians to move beyond protests and complaints to constructive nation-building.
The former Central Bank Governor outlined a concrete agenda for national transformation, calling on progressive-minded Nigerians to forge a unified, sustainable rebirth plan. A major plank of this agenda, he said, should be the consolidation of free and compulsory qualitative primary and secondary education in all states led by the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), alongside guaranteed access to quality healthcare.
Soludo further advocated for a deliberate push to make the key provisions of Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution—focused on socio-economic rights—legally enforceable. This, he argued, would institutionalize progressivism and demonstrate commitment to the Nigerian people’s future.
“We can’t ask for their patriotism if we have not invested systematically in their future,” he warned.
Concluding his remarks, Soludo reaffirmed his hope for Nigeria’s greatness while urging Nigerians to sustain the dialogue for national renewal.
“Let the conversation continue. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The event, organized annually by Covenant Nation, serves as a forum for leaders, intellectuals, and citizens to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey and future prospects.
