…As Island Club celebrates Nigeria @ 65
Prominent leaders in Nigeria yesterday gathered at the Island Club 2025 Nigeria @ 65 Independence Lecture and Awards Night to emphasize the need for Nigeria to stand tall as the giant of Africa and strengthen the continent’s place on the global stage.
These were the central messages of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, and other stakeholders at the event with the theme, “Nigeria and the African Reawakening: The Giant That Must Not Sleep,” held at the Peacock Hall, Island Club, Lagos.
Other dignitaries who spoke include: Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Chief Wole Olaonipekun (SAN), Major General Ike Nwachkwu, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, and others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stressed that Nigerians need to join hands and fight to ensure that the country hits its potential in all areas of human endeavor to strengthen African unity, foster economic growth, and secure its rightful place as a global leader.
He added that Nigeria stands tall as Africa’s most populous nation with over 220 million people, a demographic dividend fuelling growth, adding that the figure, over 60 per cent, is believed to be young and in their productive stage, stressing that not many countries can boast of this youthful, productive, and vibrant demographic.
According to him, “We need to join hands and fight to ensure that Nigeria hits her potential in all areas of human endeavours. With private sector leadership or collaboration with captains of industry, like the esteemed Island Club members, this giant of a nation will wake up, move up, and stay up.”
The Governor noted that the theme of the event is a reflection on Nigeria at 65, which should be an exhibition of collective ideas on how this giant of a country can live up to its stature as a true giant, responsible and respected, honoured and valued at home and abroad.
Accordingly, the Governor reaffirmed that Lagos remains committed to contributing its quota as a hub of enterprise, creativity, and progress to Nigeria’s bright future and Africa’s awakening.
“Nigeria has all that it takes to succeed. We are home to the largest number of millionaires in Africa – a true reflection of our economic vibrancy. Lagos State epitomizes entrepreneurial dynamism; a commercial heartbeat driving Africa’s economic pulse. It is working towards becoming Africa’s model megacity, one that is safe and secure, functional and productive. It has the ambition of becoming a global economic and financial hub in which businesses thrive and with high returns on investment,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Highlighting Lagos’ pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic progress, Sanwo-Olu noted that the state now ranks as the second largest city economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $259 billion based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), adding that the state GDP is more than 18.7% of Nigeria’s GDP and about 20% of the country’s non-oil GDP.
Similarly, Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), called for a national consensus on what the “Nigerian Dream” truly means, stressing the importance of defining clear standards for success and leadership.
He emphasized that success is not static but must be redefined over time to reflect the nation’s evolving challenges and opportunities, urging Nigerians to establish a gold standard for leadership, so the nation can recognize and rally behind true visionaries.
Referencing Nigeria’s role in continental infrastructure, Fashola highlighted the country’s contributions to the Trans-African Highway and other projects, noting that three of the nine highways across Africa terminate in Lagos. From the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to the Kano-Maradi Railway, he explained that such investments reflect Nigeria’s responsibility in shaping Africa’s shared future.
In the same vein, the Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olaonipekun (SAN), underscored the importance of structural and constitutional reforms to rebuild Nigeria’s foundations.
Olaonipekun stressed that “The responsibility now rests on Nigerians and Africans themselves to define a new path. With a call for justice, unity, and moral rebirth. Nigeria must be born again, contextualized, structural, constitutional, and legal. Only then can we inspire Africa and the world.”
Also speaking, the Former Foreign Minister, Major General Ike Nwachkwu, noted the importance of strong opposition in safeguarding democracy, recalling how past opposition figures helped preserve Nigeria’s stability and accountability.
The Major General lamented the weakening of opposition politics today, warning that democracy cannot thrive without genuine checks, fairness, and focus. “With a call for Nigerians to unite, rise above selfish politics, and demand governance that prioritizes the collective good over personal ambition,” he concluded.
The Keynote Speaker, an Internationally Celebrated Pan-Africanist & Thought Leader, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, challenged Nigerians to embrace their historic responsibility as Africa’s leader, warning that the nation can no longer afford “business as usual.”
Lumumba noted that despite its vast resources and human talent, Nigeria has yet to achieve its true potential, pointing to persistent challenges in governance, education, healthcare, electricity, and the economy. “The day Nigeria wakes up is the day Africa wakes up,” said the erudite scholar. The lecturer emphasized that leadership at all levels must rise above self-interest and tribalism to deliver real transformation.”
He therefore urged Nigeria to take bold steps in diversifying its economy, reviving local industries, strengthening education, and investing in innovation, rather than relying on imports.
