Sokoto, 14 December, 2023 / 11:45 am (ACI Africa).
The Catholic Bishop of Nigeria’s Sokoto Diocese has challenged youthful Nigerians planning to leave the country to consider bringing back to the West African nation what they gain from their host countries.
Speaking during the 12th Convocation lecture of Veritas University of Nigeria on December 9, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah said, “I encourage young people who want to leave Nigeria to please, feel free to leave. The country is big enough. We can assure you that by the time you settle down in the United States of America or wherever you have gone, you will discover that Nigeria needs you.”
Bishop Kukah underscored the need for Nigerians who leave the country to consider its progress, saying, “When you bring your wealth of experience to bear in the development of your country, it will help in fostering the needed development that we yearn for.”
“For those you left behind, our hope and prayer is that they will be competing at the same level with you. We have everything that it takes to turn our country around,” he added.
Bishop Kukah went on to caution young people in Africa’s most populous nation against relying on the political class for change in the country, and emphasized the need for the youth of the West African nation to “come up with the type of changes that have a positive impact on the society.”