Nigeria at 66: Zainab Mohammed Calls for Honest Reflection on Nation’s Progress, Challenges By Raymond Enoch
As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, Gender and Change Advocate, Amb. Zainab Mohammed, has called on Nigerians, government institutions, policymakers, civil society organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders to use the occasion to critically reflect on the country’s progress, challenges and future.
In a statement issued today in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day, Mohammed said October 1 should not only be a day of celebration but also an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the nation’s development trajectory and renew their commitment to building a better country.
She urged stakeholders to undertake what she described as an honest “X-ray” of Nigeria’s progress and aspirations across critical areas of national development, including education, infrastructure, gender inclusion, maternal mortality, economic integration, rural development, food security, security and sustainable development.
On education, Mohammed asked whether Nigeria was adequately equipping its children and young people with the knowledge and skills required to compete and thrive in the future.
She also questioned the extent of progress in infrastructure development, particularly in the provision of roads, electricity, water, transportation, housing and digital infrastructure needed to drive national development.
The Gender and Change Advocate stressed the need for greater attention to gender inclusion, asking whether women and girls were being given meaningful opportunities to participate and provide leadership across all sectors of national life.
On maternal mortality, she challenged stakeholders to consider what more could be done to ensure that women do not lose their lives simply because they are giving birth.
Mohammed further raised questions about economic integration, particularly whether government policies were creating an economy capable of connecting communities, expanding opportunities and enabling Nigerians to participate meaningfully in national prosperity.
She called for sustained investment in rural development, noting the need to pay greater attention to communities where millions of Nigerians live and work.
On food security, she asked whether every Nigerian could access safe, nutritious and affordable food, while also urging collective action to address the country’s security challenges.
“What more can we collectively do to build a safer nation where citizens can live, work and prosper without fear?” she asked.
Mohammed also placed sustainable development among the issues requiring national reflection, questioning whether Nigeria was building a country that meets the needs of the present without compromising the opportunities and resources available to future generations.
She emphasised that the questions should not be directed at government alone, but should serve as a collective call to leaders, policymakers, institutions, civil society, the private sector, communities and other non-state actors to examine their respective roles in shaping Nigeria’s future.
According to her, the responsibility for building a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria is shared across society and requires sustained commitment beyond political leadership.
As the nation celebrates 66 years of independence, Mohammed urged Nigerians to remember and honour the country’s “heroes past” whose sacrifices contributed to the Nigeria of today.
Looking ahead, she expressed hope for a Nigeria where justice, opportunity, dignity, peace and prosperity are available to all, and where the national flag flies proudly without the stains of division, violence, corruption and despair.
“May this anniversary be not only a celebration, but also a moment of reflection, responsibility and renewed hope for the Nigeria we desire to build,” she said.
Mohammed congratulated Nigerians and friends of Nigeria on the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, urging citizens to make the occasion a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous nation.
