Former Kaduna senator and social critic, Sen. Shehu Sani, has emphasized that Nigeria’s status as a “Giant of Africa” should extend beyond its population to encompass all sectors of the economy. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Sani highlighted the need for Nigeria to excel in manufacturing, export, shipbuilding, car manufacturing, information technology, agriculture, and education.
“We are a nation of 220 million people and we pride ourselves as a Giant of Africa. Well, population is an asset, but what do we use that population for? We should be giant in manufacturing, giant in export; giant in shipbuilding; giant in car manufacturing; giant in information technology; giant in agricultural; giant in education. Nigeria is not there yet, we shouldn’t just be giant in population,” Sani stated.
Expressing concern over the persisting challenges facing the country, Sani questioned why solutions to Nigeria’s problems have remained elusive despite over six decades of political independence. He urged for prioritization of issues and concerted efforts towards finding lasting solutions.
“We have all the resources and all the manpower and all the opportunity to make this country great. We are not a failed state. God has endowed Nigeria with all that we need,” Sani emphasized.
Sani emphasized the need for Nigeria to address its security challenges, invest heavily in agriculture, and revamp the education sector. He called for significant investments in science and technology and advocated for an all-out war against terrorists with well-equipped and funded security agencies.
The remarks were made on the sidelines of the Inaugural Memorial Lecture of Prince Emeka Obasi, a distinguished Nigerian and former Publisher of Business Hallmark. Discussants at the event included Mr. Femi Awoyemi, Chairman of PROSHARE, and Prof. Anthony Kila, Centre Director of the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS).
The event also saw the unveiling of the Prince Emeka Obasi Memorial Foundation (PEOMF) by the Special Guest of Honour, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, represented by his deputy Ikechukwu Emetu. Prince Emeka Obasi, the Publisher of Hallmark Newspapers and former Commissioner for Information in Abia, passed away on March 15, 2022, at a Lagos hospital at the age of 58.