Presidential Spokesperson, Sunday Dare, has urged Nigerians to embrace strong institutions, ethical leadership and responsible citizenship as the foundation for sustainable nation building, insisting that governments alone cannot build a prosperous nation. Dare made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Civil Leadership Summit organised by the Nigerian Baptist Convention at Bowen University, Iwo, on the theme, “Challenges in Nation Building.”
Speaking before religious leaders, academics and other stakeholders, Dare said Nigeria’s future would be determined more by the quality of its institutions and the values of its citizens than by government policies alone. He argued that before governments shape nations, institutions shape citizens, while values and character ultimately define the quality of leadership and governance.
He stressed that families, schools, churches, businesses and every Nigerian have important roles to play in building a united and prosperous country.
The Presidential Spokesperson reflected on his upbringing in Jos and his education at Baptist High School, saying the institution instilled in him discipline, integrity, excellence and service. He commended the Nigerian Baptist Convention for its enduring contributions to national development through education, healthcare, leadership development and humanitarian interventions, noting that the Baptist mission, established in Nigeria in 1850 by Thomas Jefferson Bowen, had consistently demonstrated that nation building extends beyond politics and government.
Dare maintained that while infrastructure remains essential for development, roads, bridges and public projects alone cannot build a great nation. According to him, enduring progress depends on producing visionary leaders, strengthening institutions and cultivating citizens who uphold integrity, discipline and service to the common good. He described leadership as stewardship rather than the exercise of power, urging leaders across all sectors to prioritise transparency, accountability and the long-term interests of the nation.
Drawing from his experience in public service as former Chief of Staff to the former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, now President, Commander in Chief , former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and now Presidential Spokesperson, Dare said every stage of his career had reinforced the need for deliberate policies, resilient institutions and courageous leadership. He defended the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms, acknowledging the sacrifices they demand while expressing confidence that they would create a more competitive economy capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and securing long-term prosperity.
The Presidential Spokesperson also challenged universities and other educational institutions to prepare young Nigerians for an increasingly technology-driven world by producing graduates who are innovative, ethically grounded and capable of creating employment through entrepreneurship, research and innovation. He described Nigeria’s diversity as a national strength, urging citizens to embrace unity, justice and equal opportunity as essential ingredients for peace and sustainable development.
Dare concluded by calling on Nigerians to place service above self-interest and to work collectively towards building stronger institutions for future generations.
He said history would remember the present generation not for the offices it occupied or the speeches it delivered, but for the institutions it strengthened, the opportunities it created and the values it upheld in laying the foundation for a more united, prosperous and resilient Nigeria.
