As Nigeria continues to navigate its multifaceted challenges, leading academics and professionals have appealed to the federal government to design a unifying national goal that represents all ethnic and religious aspirations of all Nigerians for the rapid development of the country.
While lamenting absence of a national goal, they stressed that no country makes a progress without a collective national driving force which represents the aspirations of all citizens such as Nigeria with different ethnic groups.
Speaking at Future Leaders Conference 2025; “Chatting Visionary Paths for Leaders of the Future” organised by Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA Class of ’88) for students and young leaders of Government College, Ughelli, stakeholders also reechoed the need for government at all level to invest heavily in education.
Keynote speaker at the conference and Dean of Postgraduate Schools, Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada, stated that the absence of national aspirations where all tribes and religious bodies have a shared belief is doomed to fail.
Prof Awhefeada blamed Nigeria’s woes on the failure of the political class to design a national goal or consensus aspiration, noting that without that Nigeria would continue to “circling conflict, unrest, and disunity.”
“We speak often of national dreams and national development, but we lack a binding consensus to drive them forward. I call this missing link the Nigerian Dream.
“Sadly, many Nigerians, especially the marginalised, are unable to contribute to this dream, let alone benefit from it and if we are to move forward, we must establish a unifying national goal—something that defines who we are and what we stand for.
“Let it reflect our values, hope, equity, peace, and progress. Let it be adopted, taught, lived, and passed on. This moment is not one to ignore. It is a crucial turning point. If we miss it, we leave behind a bitter inheritance for future generations.
“We must build a home, a nation, where every citizen feels seen and heard. A Nigeria that is just and prosperous. A Nigeria where peace and plenty are not slogans, but everyday realities. This is the Nigerian Dream. But we cannot build it with slogans alone. We must also act—individually and collectively.
“But consciousness without action is wasted. I urge parents, teachers, leaders—go back to the roots of our culture. Restore value-based education. Let every school, every classroom, teach not just academics, but character. Because character is more important than mere intelligence.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Prof Ezekiel Agbalagba, advocated for an urgent shift to innovations and the need to turn the country’s present challenges into sustainable wealth and progress.
Prof Agbalagba, who spoke on Understanding, Confrontation, Managing and Converting Today’s Environmental Challenges to Sustainable Wealth of the Future, stressed the need for future leaders to understand current environmental challenges.
He said, “Sustainable practice can drive innovation, reduce cost, and enhance competitiveness that would improve brand reputation and attract environmentally conscious consumers, reduce regulatory risks and waste.
“As future leaders and a people, we must understand the environmental challenges so that we can confront it head-on by managing the Internet challenges by converting the environmental nuisance into sustainable wealth and reap the benefit for the future.”
In their separate remarks, a former Delta State commissioner for education, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu and renowned educationist, Mrs. Franca Bodeyan Chibuzor, urged students to shun social vices like, intake of hard drugs, negative pressure from peer groups, same sex amongst others
Ogbuagu and Chibuzor highlighted addiction to pornography, homosexuality, low self-esteem, cultism, excessive use of social media and depression are some of the challenges students face.
Earlier, chairman of GCUOBA Class of ’88, Engr. Frank Ariboyi, in his welcome remark, said, “This initiative is not just a conference, it is legacy program, a beacon of hope and direction, born of deep desire to give back meaningfully to our alma mater, and to inspire a new generation of leaders who will shape the destiny of this great country.
“The theme of this year’s conference is a call to think, dream and act beyond limitations, a call to pursue excellence, integrity, innovation and service.
“We decided to involve other schools in other broaden the scope and we brought together some of the finest minds, visionary leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and professionals to share their journeys, mistakes and win with honesty and purpose.”
Others who spoke at the event include Prof. Godswill Ofualagba, Pastor Wilson Egbodje, and Mrs. Franca Bodeyan Chibuzor. Students from different schools in Ughelli, Delta State, attended the future leaders conference.
