The Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has urged Nigerians to transcend parochial interests rooted in individual communities and states and identify concrete collaborative opportunities that would benefit the populace and advance national progress.
He further exhorted Nigerians across all ethnic groups to engage in cooperative efforts within agriculture and food security, as well as to champion education, skill development and technological innovation.
Kefas articulated this position in Abuja on Saturday during an assembly of the descendants of the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom, whom he noted constitute an estimated population of approximately 20 million individuals dispersed across more than 22 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated: “We have convened to reinforce our collective contributions toward the peace, unity and development of our nation. Nigeria confronts formidable challenges. Numerous communities experience the adverse effects of insecurity, poverty, unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, climate change and constrained economic opportunities.
“Many of our young people possess education and talent; however, they encounter insufficient opportunities to realise their capabilities. Our agricultural workers demonstrate considerable dedication, yet numerous individuals lack access to contemporary equipment, accessible financing, storage infrastructure, processing facilities and dependable market channels.
“Certain communities command substantial natural and human resources, notwithstanding their continued underdevelopment. These circumstances necessitate an elevated degree of collaboration. No individual community can address these challenges through isolated efforts. No state can accomplish sustainable development independently.
“We must expand our perspective beyond our respective communities and states. We must recognise practical domains wherein collective action can serve our people and facilitate Nigeria’s advancement. We ought to pursue cooperative initiatives in agriculture and food security. We ought to advance education, skill development and innovation.
“We should encourage trade, investment and industrial development across our communities. We should preserve our culture and heritage and responsibly transform our historical and cultural assets into opportunities, tourism and employment. We should also strengthen cooperation among our traditional institutions and support them in promoting peace, security and responsible leadership at the grassroots.
“Our women and young people must have a central place in this regard. A movement that does not empower its young people has no future. A development agenda that does not include its women cannot achieve its full potential.
“But we must also be honest with ourselves. The greatest honour we can give our ancestors is not merely to praise them; it is to demonstrate the same capacity for organisation, discipline and collective action that made them great.”
Also speaking, Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, Member, Central Organising Committee, COC, and Director, Research, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee, pointed out that the people of Kwararafa have contributed immensely to the nation’s development in areas such as agriculture, the armed forces, natural resources and culture, among others.
He said: “Yet many of our communities continue to suffer degradation in areas such as infrastructure, opportunities, and general minorization and simulation in the divisions of state resources. Our clarion call is therefore simple: we see kindness, everything, justice, security, and so those gaps of our nation’s might.”