By Ovasa Ogaga,
As Nigeria grapples with a myriad of challenges, leading academics and professionals have appealed to the federal government to forge a unifying national goal that truly embodies the ethnic and religious aspirations of all Nigerians. This, they stressed, is the critical missing link for the nation's rapid development.
Speaking at the "Future Leaders Conference 2025: Chatting Visionary Paths for Leaders of the Future," organized by the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA Class of '88), experts lamented the absence of such a collective national goal which serves as a driving force. They emphasized that no country, especially one as diverse as Nigeria, can progress without a shared aspiration that unites all its citizens.
Prof. Sunny Awhefeada, Dean of Postgraduate Schools at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, and keynote speaker, minced no words. He declared that any nation lacking national aspirations, where all tribes and religious bodies don't share a common belief, "is doomed to fail." Prof. Awhefeada squarely blamed Nigeria’s persistent woes on the political class's failure to design a national goal or consensus aspiration, warning that without it, Nigeria would continue "circling conflict, unrest, and disunity."
"We speak often of national dreams and national development, but we lack a binding consensus to drive them forward. I call this missing link the Nigerian Dream," Prof. Awhefeada asserted. He lamented that "many Nigerians, especially the marginalised, are unable to contribute to this dream, let alone benefit from it." His powerful call to action resonated through the hall: "If we are to move forward, we must establish a unifying national goal—something that defines who we are and what we stand for. Let it reflect our values, hope, equity, peace, and progress. Let it be adopted, taught, lived, and passed on. This moment is not one to ignore. It is a crucial turning point. If we miss it, we leave behind a bitter inheritance for future generations."
He painted a vivid picture of the desired future: "We must build a home, a nation, where every citizen feels seen and heard. A Nigeria that is just and prosperous. A Nigeria where peace and plenty are not slogans, but everyday realities. This is the Nigerian Dream. But we cannot build it with slogans alone. We must also act—individually and collectively." Beyond government action, Prof. Awhefeada stressed individual responsibility: "But consciousness without action is wasted. I urge parents, teachers, and leaders—go back to the roots of our culture. Restore value-based education. Let every school, every classroom, teach not just academics, but character. Because character is more important than mere intelligence."
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Students at Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association Future Leaders Conference[/caption]
Adding another crucial dimension, Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), passionately advocated for an urgent pivot towards innovation. Speaking on "Understanding, Confrontation, Managing and Converting Today's Environmental Challenges to Sustainable Wealth of the Future," he underscored the imperative for future leaders to grasp current environmental challenges and transform them into sustainable wealth.
"Sustainable practice can drive innovation, reduce cost, and enhance competitiveness that would improve brand reputation and attract environmentally conscious consumers, reduce regulatory risks and waste," Prof. Agbalagba explained. He urged the audience, "As future leaders and a people, we must understand the environmental challenges so that we can confront it head-on by managing the Internet challenges by converting the environmental nuisance into sustainable wealth and reap the benefit for the future."
Echoing the call for foundational values, former Delta State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu, and renowned educationist, Mrs. Franca Bodeyan Chibuzor, urged students to shun social vices. They highlighted critical challenges facing young people today, including "intake of hard drugs, negative pressure from peer groups, same-sex relations, addiction to pornography, homosexuality, low self-esteem, cultism, excessive use of social media, and depression."
Earlier, Engr. Frank Ariboyi, Chairman of GCUOBA Class of '88, set the tone, describing the conference as "not just a conference, it is a legacy program, a beacon of hope and direction, born of a deep desire to give back meaningfully to our alma mater, and to inspire a new generation of leaders who will shape the destiny of this great country."
He articulated the conference's ambitious theme as "a call to think, dream and act beyond limitations, a call to pursue excellence, integrity, innovation and service." Ariboyi noted the expansion of the initiative to include other schools, bringing together "some of the finest minds, visionary leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and professional to share their journeys, mistakes and win with honesty and purpose."
The impactful event also featured contributions from Prof. Godswill Ofualagba who spoke on the need for Nigeria to pay more attention to renewable and green energy in the country’s power-mix and Pastor Wilson Egbodje, reinforcing the multi-faceted approach to nurturing Nigeria's future leaders.
