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Let’s unite, make Nigeria great — Senate President

Published

5 years ago

December 28, 2020

Senate President Ahmed Lawan has called on Nigerians to put their tribal, religious, and political affiliations aside and unite to make the nation great.

Lawan made the call on Sunday during a thanksgiving service and 10th-anniversary celebration in honor of the late Chief Johnson Kalu, the father of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, at Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia.

He said that the country had great potential to be great, if Nigerians would unite, irrespective of their tribal, political and religious backgrounds.

He said: “Nigeria is designed by the grace of God to be a nation of many people of different orientation but common purpose and destiny.”

He congratulated Abia for producing three of the 20 principal officers of the National Assembly (NASS), saying that the state was being described as “the home of the whips”.

He listed Kalu, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (Senate Minority Leader), and Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives) all from Abia, as principal officers of NASS.

“This shows that the state is at the heart of Nigeria,” he said, and urged Abia and Southeast politicians to pursue a common agenda to be in the nation’s mainstream politics.

“You should attempt to be the leaders of Nigeria and not to stay away from the part of the real centre of action in Nigeria.

“So let us continue to unite in Abia and Southeast not only in making the whips of the NASS but making Nigeria ours.

“Time is of the essence, Nigeria needs all of us to be united and all hands to be on deck to make the nation work and we can make it work,” the senate president said.

He thanked the traditional rulers of Igbere for conferring on him the chieftaincy title of “Nwanne di na mba 1 of Igbere”, which literally means that “brotherhood knows no boundaries”.

In a speech, Kalu expressed gratitude to his guests, saying his family members decided to mark the anniversary of their father’s death, because “it was his will that we should not hold burial ceremony for him when he is dead.”

He described his father, who died in 2010, as highly disciplined, God-fearing and an advocate of peace and justice.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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