OAU Faculty Of Arts Lecture: Shehu Sani Advocates Renewed Commitment To Education, Accountability, Others

0

To achieve sustainable national development, a former senator and human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has declared that there must be renewed national commitment to education, accountable leadership, youth inclusion and responsible management of Nigeria’s human and natural resources.

He stated this on Friday while speaking on Nigeria’s development at a lecture organised by the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife(OAU).

Delivering the lecture, entitled: “Rethinking Development in Nigeria: Key Lessons and Prospects for the Future,” Sani said Nigeria has made tremendous impacts through its contributions to institutional and societal development within and outside the country.

He told his audience, comprising of university administrators, lecturers, students, political stakeholders and other guests, that it’s a known fact that Nigerian professionals, intellectuals and citizens had, at different levels in the globe, made significant contributions exuding high quality of human resources abound in the country.

Nevertheless, the former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria identified the critical challenge the nation has in exploring and exploiting its advantageous population, talents and natural wealth for sustainable national development.

He noted that the nation would need a holistic approach towards achieving any serious development by examinng the choices, achievements and mistakes of previous generations.

Sani emphasised that the younger generation of Nigerians should be guided by history as they prepare to take greater responsibility for the federation.

According to him, what today’s Nigerians are enjoying, in terms of institutions, opportunities and values, were products of past decisions.

He, therefore, tasked young Nigerians to see it as an obligation to prepare a better society for the next generation, urging them to study the country’s history, take pride in its accomplishments and resist every temptation to surrender to hopelessness.

Sani said: “We are benefiting from what past generations have been able to do for us. Future generations can only benefit from the seeds we are planting now.”

The activist further charged young Nigerians to be conscious of nation’s difficulties and commit themselves to turn around the conditions that encouraged unemployment, insecurity, corruption and weak public institutions in the country.

Advocating greater youth participation in political leadership, governance and civic engagement, Sani emphasised that the youth must be prepared to demand accountability, defend democratic values and contribute to the development of their communities.

In his address, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Gbenga Fasiku, disclosed that the special lecture was organised as part of the Faculty’s commitment to intellectual engagement and national development.

He explained that the lecture series is a platform through which students and lecturers could interact with distinguished Nigerians whose experiences offered important lessons on leadership, citizenship and public service.

The erudite professor disclosed that the event was the first special lecture organised by the Faculty in the 2025/2026 academic session and the first in the series to feature a guest lecturer from northern Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture, Fasiku said it reflected the urgency of reviewing Nigeria’s development journey and identifying realistic pathways for the future.

He, therefore, charged political parties and the electorate to strive for greater inclusion of young Nigerians in leadership and policymaking, noting the nation’s future could not be assured without giving the younger generation opportunity for the transition.

The varsity’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, commended the Faculty for organising the lecture and inviting the former senator to share his wealth of experience.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibukun Akanni, the VC appreciated Senator Sani for honouring the invitation and sharing his experiences and perspectives with members of the university community.

The Vice Chancellor said Sani’s engagements in politics, activism, education and advocacy had placed him in a strong position to speak about Nigeria’s development challenges.

He was hopefui that the lecture would inspire students to approach national issues with knowledge, courage and a sense of responsibility.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Gbemisola Remi Adeoti, and other lecturers who spoke at the event placed premium on learning from the errors of older generations for advancement.

They all charged urged younger citizens to pursue development, strengthen national institutions and avoid repeating choices that had slowed the country’s progress.

Some of the students, who attended the event, described the lecture as inspiring, revealing that it had renewed their determination to become more involved in leadership and public affairs.

Students of the Department of Dramatic Arts rounded off the event through cultural performance.

The guest lecturer was presented a commemorative award.