Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Executive Director of Project at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says Nigeria will be great in spite of its current challenges, adding that the economy is moving in the right direction.
He said this while speaking on Friday in Abuja shortly after he was inducted into the Northern Youth Council Hall of Fame.
Ojougboh was also honoured as “Garkuwan Matasan Arewa Najieriya“ meaning defender of Northern Nigerian youths by the council.
“Make no mistake about it, this country is a great country and it will grow, the teething problems we are having currently are not forever, it is a phase.
“We most build this country because we do not have another one, we must speak the truth always, because truth will always persist and rule over lies,” he said.
While noting that corruption was the major problem of the country, he said it was unfortunate that some youths tend to be more corrupt than the older generation; a narrative that must be changed according to him.
Ojouboh who is also the Chairman of NDDC Contracts Verification Committee, explained that embezzling public funds amounted to seizing the common wealth of the people.
“You cannot travel in two cars at the same time; you cannot sleep in more than one room or on more than one bed at a time.
“Embezzling public funds for personal use is seizing the common wealth of the people, we most all stand and speak to support President Muhammadu Buhari on the anti corruption fight.
“I want to assure you that as long as we keep faith, Nigeria will be great, let’s continue to pray for the president and Nigeria that the teething problems we currently have, will phase out,” he said.
Ojougboh, however, urged the council leadership not to limit its award to those in power or the influential in the society, but to go to the grassroots to recognise those that were positively impacting on lives.
“Expose these people for the goodness they do for mankind, let people know that you must not be a Senator, Governor or President to be recognised and singled out for honour,” he said.
Speaking on NDDC operations, Ojougboh said President Muhammadu Buhari was the first president that had not made any demand on the commission, adding that past presidents usually inundated the commission with demands.
Earlier, Malam Abdulmalik Alfa, Director Legal Affairs of the Northern Youth Council, said Ojougboh was being honoured because of his exemplary leadership style.
Alfa said the council from time to time, singled out individuals who distinguished themselves in the society by providing exemplary leadership and contributing to the social economic development of the country.
“It was on this base that our satellite located Ojougboh for this very honour.
“On behalf of the organic family of the Northern Youth Council, I want to healthily welcome you into the council`s Hall of Fame as icon of societal transformation.
“It is our hope, prayer and optimism that this honour will serve as a catalyst for you to continue to tow the noble part you have been towing,” he said.
He said the council was collaborating with other youth organisations in the country to ensure peace and unity of all citizens.
“We are into peace building, because we discover that that is what we need to build this country, the unity of this country is most times, threatened by some disgruntled elements.
“As youths of Northern extraction, we are using this platform to collaborate with our Southern counterparts such as the Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing, the Ijaw Youth Congress and Oduduwa Youth Congress.
“The essence of such collaboration is to see how youths of this country can forge a common front to ensure political and economic emancipation of all, “ he said.
Alfa said the council was also into donation of relief materials to the less privileged and vulnerable members of the society and was also advocating entrepreneurship.
He urged youths to acquire skills, saying that entrepreneurship was what the country needed to attain its developmental goal.
This, Alfa said, was especially so because there were no ready white colour jobs in the country, adding that for Nigeria to attain greatness, there was need for youths to embrace entrepreneurship.
