President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to celebrate the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary, stressing that access to healthcare, education, and other social services has improved significantly since 1960.
In a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday morning, Tinubu said that although Nigeria’s journey had been marked by social, economic, and political challenges, the country has made “tremendous progress” in economic growth, social cohesion, and physical development.
“For decades, the promise of our Independence has been tested by profound challenges, and we have survived. While we may not have achieved all the lofty dreams of our forebearers, we have not strayed too far from them,” the president said.
He highlighted the remarkable expansion in the education sector, noting that Nigeria had only 120 secondary schools with about 130,000 students at Independence. By 2024, the figure had risen to more than 23,000 secondary schools nationwide.
“At Independence, we had only the University of Ibadan and Yaba College of Technology as the two tertiary institutions in the country. By the end of last year, Nigeria had 274 universities, 183 polytechnics, and 236 colleges of education across federal, state, and private ownership,” Tinubu added.
The president also pointed to advancements in healthcare, infrastructure, telecommunications, financial services, aviation, and defence as evidence of national progress.
Reflecting on the country’s turbulent history, Tinubu acknowledged that Nigeria had endured a civil war, military dictatorships, and political crises, but said its resilience has always prevailed.
“In all these, we weathered every storm and overcame every challenge with courage, grit, and uncommon determination,” he said. “Though our system and the ties that bind us are sometimes stretched, we continue striving to build a more perfect union where every Nigerian can find purpose and fulfilment.”
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