From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerian youths not to lose faith in the country despite current challenges, assuring that ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration will yield positive results in due course.
Speaking on Friday at an interactive session with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) tagged “An Uncommon Evening with the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio,” the Senate President encouraged young Nigerians to be hopeful and proactive in driving national change.
The event, held at the APC Youth House in Abuja, was organised by the party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel.
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Addressing the gathering, Akpabio urged them to stay optimistic, saying, “The world was not built in a day. If you feel discouraged about Nigeria’s future, do something about it. As a young person, you can change Nigeria by doing the right thing. Start first by cleaning your environment. Start first by sharing what you have with others. Start first by showing love to one another.”
He assured that the nation’s challenges were not permanent. “Don’t mind the situation you find today. The evil you see today, you shall see them no more. The poverty around you today, you shall see them no more. Just believe strongly and have faith in your country. Your time will come, and Nigeria will change,” he said.
Akpabio emphasised the power of positive thinking and personal conviction, describing the mind as “stronger than the body.” He said: “Do not be despaired. Do not feel discouraged about this country. Just believe in this country. I am here to encourage you. The mind is stronger than the body. Ensure that your mind is stronger than your body.
“Believe in your mind that your country shall be better. Believe in your mind that you shall make it in life and you will make it in life. Believe in your mind that you will be the agent of change for your generation — and you will be that agent of change because the mind is stronger than the body.”
Speaking directly to young Nigerians, the Senate President added: “What I will say to the Nigerian child is for the child to have a mindset — to have faith in Nigeria and to ensure that he thinks positively about this country, because what he thinks in his mind is what will happen to Nigeria.”
On the role of the APC in shaping Nigeria’s future, Akpabio described the party as “a vehicle of transformation.” He said, “APC is not an accident. APC is a dream that was well thought out. APC is a vehicle of leadership. APC is a vehicle for change. APC is the only stable political party in Nigeria that will guarantee your electoral victory in future.”
He further reminded the youths that their leadership role had already begun. “You are not just leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders of today. I decided to honour the National Youth Leader and all of you to be here tonight because I am a strong believer in the youth. Tonight, I came to tell you — do not wait to be leaders of tomorrow. You are leaders of today. Discover your mission of uniting Nigeria. Discover your mission of loving one another. Discover your mission of gaining respect from the international community through ensuring that whatever responsibility bestowed on you, you carry it to the letter.”
When asked what inspired him to go into politics, Akpabio offered an unusually candid response: “Anger inspired me to go into politics. If you are not angry with the situation of your family — assuming you were born into a poor home — you will not be able to change that home. Anger inspired me to go into politics.”
Earlier, the APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, said the session was designed to expose young party members to Akpabio’s leadership journey and philosophy.
According to him, “The essence of this interactive session is to give our youths the opportunity to listen to the Senate President on what inspired him, and to learn lessons that will challenge them to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
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