UBA Group Chairman Mr. Tony O. Elumelu at Nigerian Bar Association Annual General.

PHOTO: UBA Group chairman delivering his Key note speech

The Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference is the biggest assembly of legal professionals in Africa. During its 63^rd Anniversary on August 27th, 2023, UBA Group Chairman Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R, who was the guest speaker delivered a keynote speech that was emphasising unit across Africa, “whatever our backgrounds, geographies, religions, experiences may be -to ensure that African countries experience a true renaissance”.

His Key highlights were;

• For every African country Nation building is a call to arms – a vital task – a necessity.
• At its core, nation-building is the intricate process of forging a cohesive, harmonious and united society out of diverse individuals, culture, and ideologies in each country.
• Nation building is the art of constructing a shared identity, purpose, and vision that transcends all individual interests.
• Transforming Africa is a journey that demands our collective dedication, building across political affiliations, ethnic differences, and socioeconomic differences. One that is not the responsibility of our government alone.
• Great nations start with great people, not just great leaders which requires total involvement of every countryman.
• Our private sector, our philanthropies, our civil society, all citizens must be brought together and be empowered – as real, valued and executing partners for this national renewal, this nation building.
• Nation-building is not a quick fix, it entails sacrifices. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes in our countries.
• Let us approach the task of nation-building with unwavering determination, guided by the principles of unity, inclusivity, and progress.
• Our pursuit of nation-building be characterized by unwavering determination, empathy, and the commitment to create a legacy of progress, unity, and hope for generations to come.

He also shared some game-changing tips for key areas in which every nation should invest in for the betterment of our Continent which include but not limited to;

Investment and infrastructure

Let us lead each nation building by laying those important foundations for our countries renewing not only our physical infrastructure, such as roads, rails, bridges, and ports, but also invest in our people and key infrastructure.

Invest in our Women

When a woman succeeds, families and communities are lifted out of poverty. I am a product of a hardworking woman who greatly influenced, supported, and groomed me which is common to most Africans. It is no surprise that in my businesses, women lead and flourish.

Investment in our Youth

We need to renew our commitment to our youths, provide them with the means to succeed. Nations that prioritise their young go far – This means not just investment in our education system, but in our entrepreneurial culture.

Access to Electricity

Let us invest in our power sector creating regulatory structures that reward success, deliver to our people, our schools, our hospitals and our industries, the sustainable, robust power supply that all African countries so urgently need.

Social Infrastructure

Let us invest in our social infrastructure, civil society, courts of law and our administrators of justice. No country – and no entrepreneur, can truly thrive without the rule of law, without peace, without certainty and fairness – for all – the young, old, women, men and our future generations.

Invest in Security

We should invest in security because banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, pipeline vandalization, transmission line cuts. These create uncertainties, fears, deprivation, poverty, and untold hardship to most Africans yet they can be dealt with.

Brand and Reorientation

Let us invest in our country.  We all know the frustrations and the fact that joblessness of our youth is a betrayal of a generation and the plundering of our commonwealth is inhumane and cruel yet we have no other motherland.

Our Countries and the whole of Africa can be better with collective efforts from every countryman.