Abdulsalami to Nigerians: Country’s  Challenges Not Insurmountable

*Declares country’s best yet to come 

*British High Commission says 65,000 Nigerian students issued visa

Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Ahead of Nigeria’s Independence anniversary next week, a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has explained that the social and economic challenges confronting the nation at the moment were not insurmountable, saying the country has got what it would take to be great in an atmosphere of peace.
Abdulsalami stated this in Abuja, yesterday, as chairman at a book presentation titled: ‘The making of Modern Nigeria: Pre-Colonial Era Till Date,’ published by the Sun Publishing Company and its partners, Bridge Head Communications and Compact Communications.

He assured Nigerians of better days ahead and that most countries of the world were currently undergoing similar challenges.
“Nigeria is, no doubt, going through some challenges. No matter what we think or say, this prevailing atmosphere of faltering steps, great anxiety, and recriminations is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon. The good news is that we have all it takes to surmount our challenges and press forward for a better Nigeria.

“To make this happen, all hands must be on deck to change our trajectory and make it possible for Nigeria to have its pride of place in the comity of nations. A necessary first step for the much-desired progress is to examine how the past was charted,” he said.
Abdulsalami stated that, the book: “The Making of Modern Nigeria – From Pre-colonial Era Till Date”, was  auspicious, and would allow Nigerians to have invaluable insights into understanding the present-day challenges and the way out of the quagmire.

He said doing so uncannily reminded him of the exhortation of a great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, that, “Study the past if you must define the present.”
Knowing Nigeria’s rich past and its present, he added, would serve as a springboard for the people to work for the realisation of a Nigeria of their collective aspirations and dreams in no distant future.

“I believe that the Nigeria of our dream is possible when we contribute our quota with every sense of patriotism and nationalism. It is commendable that this book is dedicated to Nigeria’s founding fathers and those who believe that some good will still come out of the country.
“Our generation has played its part for the making of a modern Nigeria. The future belongs to the rising generation. It is, therefore, for today’s and future generations to play their roles for the making of a supersonic Nigeria.

“Every effort at chronicling Nigeria’s past is in itself a tour de force of what was, what is, and what can be. Nigeria was a notable beacon of hope for the black race in the pre- independence era. Its achievement of independence on October 1960, was both inspirational and reassuring for a host of Africa countries and indeed the larger global community.

“Post independence Nigeria has continued to struggle for enduring success in an increasingly complex and competitive world. It behooves each and everyone of us as Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to join hands in making Nigeria better and greater.

“This we can do by ensuring, peace reigns in our country, being each other’s keeper. We should also support our security agencies in whatever way we can. It had been 63 years of continuous efforts at making the country better and for us as a nation to achieve our full potential. We have seen the good. We have seen the bad. And we hope for the best in the future,” Abdulsalami stated.

Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria in Abuja, Gill Atkinson, said the relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which predated the former’s independence in 1960, has continued to wax strong.
She said the British Government had issued visas to over 65,000 Nigerian Students, currently studying in the United Kingdom.
She said, “As members of the commonwealth, we share the ideals of democracy, human rights and international peace and security, separation of power and rule of law. Nigeria has been an independent nation since 1960, we will celebrate together, 63 years of independence on October 1.

“We recognise the role played by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, when he returned Nigeria to democracy in 1999. I love Nigeria’s complexity, diversity, deep cultures and its special many peoples. The United Kingdom issued 65,000 students visas to Nigerian Students to come and study in the UK.
“Nigeria is the third largest country in the world in terms of the country with the largest students in terms of university and transit students in the UK,” she added.

Managing Director/Editor- in-Chief of the SUN Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, said the  book was a work that tells the Nigerian story, highlighting different aspects of our national life.