As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence anniversary, President Bola Tinubu delivered a speech steeped in both reflection and resolve.
Standing on the shoulders of the nation’s founding fathers, he urged citizens to see beyond the pains of reform and embrace the promise of a stronger, self-reliant Nigeria.
Tinubu began by paying tribute to nationalist figures like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and others, who envisioned a Nigeria destined to lead Africa and the black race globally. He reminded Nigerians that despite the turbulence of civil war, decades of dictatorship, and recurring political crises, the country has survived every storm with grit and determination.
The President highlighted Nigeria’s progress in education, healthcare, and infrastructure since 1960. He recalled that at independence, the country had only 120 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions; today, there are thousands of schools and more than 274 universities alongside polytechnics and colleges of education. Growth, he noted, has touched nearly every sector, from aviation to telecommunications.
A part of this address focused on the economy where Tinubu acknowledged inheriting “a near-collapsed system” in 2023, weighed down by subsidy distortions and reckless borrowing. He justified tough reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the collapse of multiple exchange rates, saying they were necessary to reset the economy. “We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today,” he said.
Now, he argued, the sacrifices are paying off. He pointed to a second-quarter GDP growth of 4.23%, the fastest in four years, alongside inflation dropping to its lowest in three years. Non-oil revenues surpassed N20 trillion by August 2025, while foreign reserves climbed to their highest since 2019 at $42.03 billion. Trade surpluses, oil production recovery, and a stabilised naira were flagged as further proof of an economy on the mend.
Tinubu’s reform scorecard included improved debt ratios, new milestones in mining and non-oil exports, and record gains in the stock market, which has nearly tripled in two years. Infrastructure projects from the Kano-Kastina-Maradi rail to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, are advancing, while N330 billion has been disbursed to millions of poor households through social programmes.
The President also saluted the armed forces, insisting that Nigeria is winning the war against insurgency and banditry, with peace returning to previously terrorised communities. He pledged continued support for security agencies, acknowledging their sacrifices in blood and sweat.
Turning to the youth, Tinubu described them as the “greatest assets of this blessed country” and promised to expand opportunities in education, technology, and creative industries. He cited new credit schemes, student loans, and programmes like iDICE, which is backed by international partners, as investments in the next generation.
Yet, he did not gloss over the hardship many Nigerians face, admitting that inflation and high living costs remain troubling. He assured citizens that their sacrifices are “not in vain,” stressing that reforms have laid a “foundation cast in concrete, not quicksand.” Ultimately, he argued, progress will be measured not in economic statistics but in the food on family tables, reliable electricity, and security in communities.
His closing words carried both urgency and hope: a call for productivity, innovation, and patriotism. “Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers,” he urged, pressing for support of local goods and timely tax payments. With faith in God and national willpower, he declared, “the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here.”
