The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has urged Nigerian youths not to allow present economic and social challenges to weaken their commitment to building the country’s future.
The minister gave the charge while receiving an Award of Excellence in Public Service from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. His remarks were disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Babatunde Alao.
Tunji-Ojo said young Nigerians remain the country’s greatest strength, stressing that their actions and ideas would shape the nation’s destiny.
“You are the custodians of the future. Your ideas, courage, conviction and curiosity will determine the direction Nigeria takes,” he said.
According to the minister, the country’s progress depends largely on unity, institutional reforms and a renewed sense of national purpose among citizens. He described the award as more than a personal honour, noting that it reaffirmed his belief in Nigeria’s capacity for renewal.
“Let me say this clearly: Nigeria is rising — not because our challenges have vanished, but because our resolve is stronger than ever,” he said. “The path may not be smooth, but our collective will refuses to bend.”
Tunji-Ojo added that national renewal was no longer a distant aspiration but an ongoing journey sustained by courage, faith and shared responsibility.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria was steadily moving towards a more resilient future and commended President Bola Tinubu for providing what he described as a clear framework for institutional transformation through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The President’s vision is a mandate for efficiency, compassion and renewed national confidence,” he stated.
The minister dedicated the award to Nigerian youths, civil servants, his family and President Tinubu, whose commitment to reforms, he said, continues to energise the country’s renewal efforts.
He also thanked the leadership of Obafemi Awolowo University for sustaining a tradition of intellectual excellence and national service.
Reflecting on his tenure since assuming office in 2023, Tunji-Ojo highlighted reforms in the Ministry of Interior, particularly the automation of passport processing and the clearance of backlogs, which he said had improved border management and professionalism within the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Adebayo Bamire, praised the minister’s performance in public office.
“We commend the Minister of Interior for his effective service delivery and strategic leadership, which have shown that he is prepared to provide solutions at the national level,” Bamire said.
