“Nation Building Is Not A Quick Fix”- Elumelu Backs Tinubu, Identifies Priorities

Serial entrepreneur and champion across different sectors, Tony Elumelu has backed President Bola Tinubu in some of the economic decisions aimed at revamping the economy.

“We have already seen that tough, long avoided economic decisions have been taken, We salute the political will and courage that have been found to address the root causes of issues, to introduce policies for the long term, not for the short term, Let us build on this boldness” Elumelu declared on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The Tinubu administration, among other economy fine-tuning-measures, removed fuel subsidy with the wavering effect of the increased prices of petrol and “general goods” – and monthly allocations to states for improved governance.

The master-entrepreneur addressed a gathering that featured leaders across all divides including President Bola Tinubu at the Velodrome, Chief MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Elumelu who spoke on the theme ” Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation-Building” asserted that “Nation-building is not a quick fix, it entails sacrifices. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes”.

The Chairman of high-yielding, Transcorp Plc who insisted that Nigeria is hugely enriched in human and natural resources provided examples of the consequences of past actions – and inactions – to drive home the point.

Some of the identified effects are disillusioned youth, unnecessary division and the squandering of heritage, plundering of the commonwealth especially through oil theft and pipeline destruction and general insecurity that encompasses kidnap and killings.

While pointing out that transforming Nigeria is a journey that demands collective dedication, building across political affiliations, ethnic differences, and socioeconomic differences, Elumelu described nation-building as” a call to arms – a vital task – a necessity.”

Asserting that “At its core, nation-building is the intricate process of forging a cohesive, harmonious, and united society, out of diverse individuals, culture, and ideologies”, Elumelu further posited that ” our private sector, our philanthropies, our civil society, all citizens must be brought together and be empowered – as real, valued and executing partners for this national renewal, this nation building.”

The Chairman of pan- African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates in 20 countries across Africa, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and is the only African bank with a commercial deposit-taking presence in the United States went on to urge all stakeholders to “let us lead our nation building, by laying those important foundations for our nation – let us renew our infrastructure”.

The infrastructure identified by Elumelu includes Investment in youth by providing means for them to succeed in Nigeria, Providing opportunities for women to excel for stronger impacts on family and society, putting in place a more vibrant -all-touching-power-sector, particularly gas production, investment in security to attain peace and stability for shared prosperity including put in place a more efficient social infrastructure like – civil society, courts of law and administration of justice and the building of a stronger connection with the brand Nigeria to make it a thing of pride home and abroad across all levels.

Advocating that the time for talk is over, the champion of entrepreneurship in Africa charged that “let us approach the task of nation-building with unwavering determination, guided by the principles of unity, inclusivity, and progress.”

“I am a Nigerian, I owe everything to Nigeria. I am proud of Nigeria. I am proud to be a Nigerian– let us honour our country, let’s respect out leadership, let us honour our people, let us truly build our nation, and in doing so deliver to our young ones the future and destiny they so rightly deserve – in Nigeria and in our time”, Elumelu added in his call to action on nation-building at the NBA Conference.