In a heartfelt address, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the ongoing economic difficulties faced by Nigerians and appealed for patience, calling the current struggles “unintentional hardship.” Speaking at the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Tinubu, who was represented by Tope Fasua, his Special Adviser on Economy, emphasized that while the reforms his administration is pushing are tough, they are necessary to build a better future for the country.
“I know that many of you are facing hardships, and I don’t take pleasure in causing pain,” Tinubu stated. “But we must confront the reality of the mistakes made by previous administrations. These policies did not benefit most Nigerians, and now we must make difficult changes to set things right. While the road may seem hard now, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The President highlighted the challenge of inheriting both the successes and shortcomings of past governments. However, he stressed that the focus should be on progress, not blame. “We have accepted the responsibilities of both the good and the bad legacies left behind. What’s important now is that we all work together to fix what’s broken. Enduring these tough times will lead us to better days ahead.”
He further reassured Nigerians that his reforms, although painful in the short term, are essential to make Nigeria a country that works for everyone. “Like the graduates here today, we will all have a reason to celebrate if we endure this period. I see a bright future for us all,” he said.
During the ceremony, the Chancellor of OAU, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, spoke passionately about the role of education in shaping a nation’s future. He encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge to help drive Nigeria’s development and ensure that future generations have more opportunities to succeed.
Professor Siyan Oyeweso, the Pro-Chancellor, also urged the 977 postgraduate students to apply their education for the betterment of the country and to contribute to building a nation full of opportunities.
The event saw the conferring of honorary doctorates on several distinguished individuals, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, businessman Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, academic Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, and Daere Afonya-A Akobo, all of whom were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Nigeria.
Despite the current challenges, President Tinubu’s message to Nigerians remained one of optimism. He urged everyone to stay hopeful and united as the country works through its reforms to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future.
This is a news update from NIGPOST.
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