In a powerful address that moved beyond rhetoric to practical nation-building, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, has issued a compelling call for unity and shared responsibility. Speaking at the 2025 reunion lecture of the Anglican Grammar School (AGS) Iju/Itaogbolu 1983 set, Omotoso reframed Nigeria’s narrative from one of division to one of immense, collaborative potential.
By Taiye Olayemi
Lagos, Dec. 13, 2025 (NAN)
The commissioner’s lecture, titled “One Nation, Many Paths: Navigating Nigeria’s Opportunities Together,” presented a nuanced argument: Nigeria’s profound diversity—often cited as a source of tension—is, in fact, its most potent and underutilized asset for sustainable development.
“Our paths may differ, but our destination is shared. Every Nigerian desires a nation where peace, justice, prosperity and hope can flourish,” Omotoso stated, setting the tone for a discourse that balanced stark realism with unwavering optimism.
From Potential to Prosperity: A Sector-by-Sector Roadmap
Omotoso moved past generic statements to identify specific, high-potential sectors where unified effort could yield transformative results. He provided a deeper context for each, outlining not just the opportunity, but the actionable path forward:
- Agriculture & Agribusiness: Beyond subsistence farming, he highlighted opportunities in value-chain development—processing, storage, logistics, and export. He pointed to the success of Nigerian brands in shea butter, cocoa, and cassava derivatives as a model, arguing that innovation here could create millions of jobs and ensure food security.
- Technology & Digital Economy: Acknowledging Nigeria’s status as a fintech leader in Africa, Omotoso stressed the need to expand this success into edtech, healthtech, and greentech. He emphasized that collaboration between Lagos’s tech hubs and talent across all regions could solve local problems with global applications.
- Creative Industries: While Nollywood and Afrobeat have put Nigeria on the global map, the commissioner noted the untapped potential in animation, gaming, fashion, and design. He called for structured investment and intellectual property protection to help these sub-sectors reach similar heights, transforming cultural influence into sustainable economic power.
- Renewable Energy: Framing it as a national security and economic imperative, Omotoso described renewable energy as the key to unlocking productivity. He cited the potential for decentralized solar and hydro solutions to power SMEs and industries outside the national grid, directly addressing the infrastructure challenge.
The Mechanics of Collaboration: It’s More Than a Government Job
The core of Omotoso’s message was a radical redefinition of development responsibility. “Government alone cannot build the Nigeria we desire. Every positive action, no matter how small, contributes to national development,” he asserted.
He provided concrete, scalable examples of this collective action in practice:
- Alumni Networks (like AGS ’83 Set): Their work in refurbishing labs, funding scholarships, and mentoring students was presented as a microcosm of national development—private citizens filling critical gaps.
- Community Policing & Security: Local vigilance and cooperation with formal security agencies as a model for grassroots-led stability.
- Diaspora Engagement: Highlighting remittances and knowledge transfer, he positioned the global Nigerian community as a direct partner in development, not just a source of funds.
Lagos as a Living Case Study
Omotoso pointed to Lagos State under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda as empirical evidence that collaboration works. He described how the state’s progress in transportation, healthcare, and education has been fueled by inclusive governance that actively engages the private sector, civil society, and communities. “Lagos shows that when people from different backgrounds work together, progress becomes inevitable,” he concluded.
A Legacy of Unity in Action: The AGS ’83 Example
The commissioner’s theoretical framework was vividly embodied by his hosts. Mr. Segun Adeleye, President of the Itaju ’83 Set, detailed their tangible contributions: from refurbishing a physics laboratory to a comprehensive scholarship that shepherded a student, Olubodun Gbemisayo Taiwo, from secondary school to a Computer Science program at Osun State University.
“This,” Omotoso implied, “is the ‘many paths’ philosophy in action—professionals from diverse fields uniting to create a single, life-changing opportunity.” Adeleye also outlined forward-thinking plans like a group life insurance scheme, demonstrating how such associations evolve to support members through life’s stages.
The event also featured a pragmatic health talk by Mrs. Opeyemi Durosanya, a nurse, who advised the alumni on healthy aging—a reminder that national productivity is built on the well-being of its citizens.
The Final Charge: A Project Worth Building
Omotoso’s closing remarks served as both a challenge and a vision: “As we walk different paths, let us remain committed to a shared future. Nigeria is a project worth building.”
His optimism was not blind but conditioned on the principles he outlined: unity of purpose, shared responsibility, and purposeful leadership. The lecture transcended a simple call for harmony, providing instead a structured blueprint for how Nigeria’s disparate strengths can be woven into a single, unbreakable tapestry of progress. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
PTB/AWA
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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
