Former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has expressed concern over the exodus of talented young Nigerians from the country.

According to Jega, the trend and current struggles in the nation symbolise a dangerous loss of hope.

Speaking at the launch of the inauguration of a nongovernmental organisation, ‘Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative’ in Abuja, on Saturday, Jega urged Nigerians to restore faith in the country’s future.

He said, “The country’s current struggles, including the nation’s global label as the poverty capital of the world and the increasing exodus of young talent, known as the “Japa” phenomenon are worrisome.


“This trend symbolises a dangerous loss of hope, one that dedicated patriots must counter by restoring faith in the country’s future.”

While noting that Nigeria’s post-independence era was a time when the country served as a beacon of hope across Africa, inspiring Black communities around the world, Jega commended the selfless leadership of the First Republic.

He added that the leaders then laid a solid foundation for nation-building.


The former INEC chairman urged Nigerians to reject claims that Nigeria is a failed state.


He said, ”We must reject the narrative of a failed state and work to reform our systems, to bridge divisions, and to build a nation that serves all its citizens.”

Speaking, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said citizens deserve better than mere promises.

Represented by the Director-General of National Orientation Agency, Lanre Isa Onilu, the minister said the promises made to the citizens must be fulfilled.

He said, “To keep our commitments, we must ensure that our implementations reflect the promises made to our citizens. The issue of leadership is intertwined with the challenge of managing relationships.”

URNI Patron, Hassan Tukur, emphasized that Nigeria’s progress hinges on leadership rooted in character and competence.

Tukur reflected on a time when Nigerians formed strong connections across ethnic and religious lines, urging a revival of that values.


He attributed the nation’s socioeconomic challenges to a deficit in strong leadership and called on leaders to focus on job creation, resource mobilization, and national unity.

Macphenson:
All thanks to you and your cohorts Prof. Jega.

Zonefree:
Jega is the architect of loss of hope in Nigeria. He should be prison with both hands and legs chained if Nigeria is a sane country.

Kukutente23:

Don't you know that when a plane is ageing, it does not see road well to see foreign object and avoid em

The VP is a critical national asset. Nigeria may be poor but were too big for our VP to be going about in a rickety jet

We can't have 129m poor citizens and still have a poor VP

Therefore we must raise taxes to buy new planes for tinubu and shettima

SilasGreenback:


Abi ooooooh.

Lets buy it for him and continue to make sacrifices. We need to man up and stop crying about inflation, as unfortunately, things cost money, and we should stop wanting everything cheap.

nedu666:


We don't pay enough tax. We should pay market price so that govt officials will see money to buy new jets

blackboy:
No Sir. Japa don tey. That is why we get many blacks around the world that are citizens of other countries but have roots to Nigeria. Nigerians with social media and coining the word Japa has made it so prominent and open. Them never give up na how to make their life better as another option. They still come visit or buy properties.them never give up on Nigeria