JUNIOR CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA NATIONAL PRESIDENT 2013 INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE

JCI NIGERIA NATIONAL PRESIDENT 2013 INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE Dear JCI Nigeria Members, It is with great delight that I extend my warmest greetings to all of you as our beloved country Nigeria celebrates her 53rd Independence Day. I heartily congratulate the great members of JCI Nigeria, citizens of Nigeria even in the Diaspora. To our Armed Forces and Para-military forces that guard our frontiers, and our internal security forces. Equally, I extend special greetings to the Academia, Students and even to our organized private sector for the collective efforts to transform Nigeria. This significant day in our nation's calendar takes us back to the events that made our country, a free nation. It is to the Founding Fathers of our Nation, to all the other leaders of our nationalist movements, and to the millions of citizens of Nigeria, who acted with bravery and courage, that we all pay homage today Our independence was won on the principles of truth and non-violence. It is this, as well as the transformational impact it had in other parts of the world, that makes our country exceptional. We can be proud that we all belong to a country that has proved its greatness through values, which have found such a wide resonance. We, as the inheritors of that great legacy, carry a responsibility to stand by truth and justice; to continue to conduct ourselves, in a manner that is in consonance, with Nigeria’s founding fathers standing, as a progressive and responsible country, where values of democracy, harmony and tolerance are deeply embedded. Today, our nation stands at a threshold. There are important issues on which we must focus, and as we do so, keep in mind that these are times, when we should also be on our guard, about not straying away from our main objective, of strengthening the nation in its many aspects and transform it with our productive ideas. This is a time for introspection, a time to take well thought out measures, and to prepare well for the future. There have been occasions earlier, when confronted with many questions, we did find answers. The real strength of a nation is judged not by the challenges it faces, but by its responses and how they were able to overcome. Therefore, as we analyze, make policies, legislate, implement schemes and enforce laws, we must not, forget that the purpose of all our efforts is to move on the path of progress while ensuring that morals and ethics in our society do not get eroded. Let's continue to Dare to Act as one global team by Building a Strong Organisation through People, Programs and Partnerships. Happy Independence Day to all Active Citizens! God Bless Nigeria! Olabisi Aniso (JCI Nigeria Ambassador) 2013 National President