President Bola Tinubu has called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, faith-based organisations and civil society, saying Nigeria’s development cannot be achieved by government alone but through a shared commitment to nation-building.
The President made the call on Saturday during the commissioning of the new National Headquarters of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria in Surulere, Lagos, where he stressed that sustainable development requires the collective commitment of institutions and citizens working towards a common national goal.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Tinubu said achieving the Nigeria of the people’s aspirations demands stronger partnerships among public institutions, the private sector, faith-based organisations, civil society and individual citizens.
He urged all stakeholders to deploy their expertise, resources and influence towards strengthening education, promoting good governance, fostering national unity and accelerating socio-economic development.
“Governments alone cannot deliver the Nigeria of our aspirations. Sustainable national development is a shared responsibility that requires the collective commitment of public institutions, the private sector, faith-based organisations, civil society and citizens,” the President said.
Tinubu commended the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria and the Okunnu family for their enduring contributions to national development, describing the organisation as a dependable partner that has continued to make significant impacts in education, healthcare, humanitarian services, moral development and community advancement for more than a century.
“Nigeria remains eternally grateful for the family’s legacy of service and to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society for over a century of impactful contributions to education, healthcare, humanitarian interventions, moral development and community service,” he said.
Also speaking, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, urged Nigerians not to abandon the values that have long sustained the nation, warning that no country can achieve lasting development without a strong moral foundation.
According to him, integrity, discipline, patriotism and mutual respect remain indispensable to building a peaceful, prosperous and resilient society.
“One thing that we cannot lose is our values. But sadly, how do we bring them back? It’s the only thing that can sustain us,” Hamzat said.
The Deputy Governor noted that while physical structures may deteriorate over time, the ideals upon which institutions are built must continue to inspire future generations.
“While buildings will inevitably age, the ideas upon which the Society was founded must be preserved and strengthened for future generations,” he said, urging religious organisations to continue championing education because “no nation can achieve meaningful development if its citizens are uninformed.”
In his goodwill message, the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaimon Abu-Nolla, praised the widespread impact of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society across Lagos State, citing its numerous educational and healthcare institutions as evidence of its longstanding commitment to community development and moral upbringing.
Earlier, the National President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Prince Mosediq Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Government in advancing national development through quality education, character building and humanitarian service.
He described the Society as one of Nigeria’s foremost faith-based organisations with a rich legacy spanning more than a century.
“The commissioning of this new National Headquarters, named after the late Alhaja Hassanat Abebi Okunnu House, represents more than the unveiling of a building. It symbolises the Society’s renewed commitment to strengthening its institutions and expanding its impact across the country,” Kazeem said.
The event attracted government officials, religious leaders, legal practitioners, traditional rulers and members of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, who celebrated the completion of the new headquarters while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting national development through education, moral values and selfless service.
