Nigeria at 66: NASFAT President Urges Citizens to Put Nation Before Self
Ayodeji AbdulRauf says Nigeria’s progress cannot depend on government alone, calling for responsible citizenship, integrity, service and a renewed commitment to the common good.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The President of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf, has urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the country’s development, saying the nation’s progress requires citizens to become “more Nigerian to Nigeria” as the country marks its 66th Independence anniversary.
AbdulRauf said patriotism should extend beyond speeches and public displays of national pride to everyday acts of responsible citizenship and commitment to the common good.
In an Independence Day statement, he said Nigerians often focused on what the country should provide for them while paying less attention to what they owed the nation.
He drew on Qur’an 13:11, saying meaningful national transformation begins with individuals and communities before becoming visible in institutions and the wider society.
AbdulRauf urged Nigerians to promote honesty, integrity, discipline and service, saying the country’s future could not depend solely on governments, political leaders or public institutions.
He cited the contributions of teachers, entrepreneurs, farmers, civil servants and parents as examples of how ordinary citizens could contribute to national development.
On the challenges facing the country, the NASFAT president called for patience, constructive engagement and continued commitment to national progress. He also urged Nigerians to support the reform efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while remaining committed to accountability and national development.
He said Nigeria’s diversity of ethnic groups, languages, cultures and religious traditions should be treated as a national strength rather than a source of division.
AbdulRauf also called for greater attention to young Nigerians, saying the country must create conditions that encourage education, entrepreneurship, creativity and productive engagement.
He said Nigerians should respond to the country’s difficulties with hope rather than despair, pointing to the nation’s human resources, natural resources and entrepreneurial capacity as assets that could contribute to future development.
As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, AbdulRauf urged citizens to recommit themselves to unity, honesty, hard work and service, saying a better country would require collective responsibility.
“Let us resolve to be Nigerians in conduct, conviction, and contribution,” he said, urging citizens to place the welfare of the country at the centre of their aspirations.
He concluded with prayers for Nigeria’s peace, justice, unity, prosperity and continued progress.
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