Just believe strongly and have faith in your country. Your time will come, and Nigeria will change.’
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Nigerian youths to remain hopeful about the nation’s future, saying the ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration will soon yield positive results.
Akpabio made the call on Friday, October 10, 2025, during an interactive session with young members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) tagged “An Uncommon Evening with the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.”
The event, which took place at the APC Youth House in Abuja, was organised by the party’s National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, to engage young people on leadership, national development, and civic responsibility.
Encouraging the youths not to give up on Nigeria, Akpabio said, “The world was not built in a day. If you feel discouraged about Nigeria’s future, do something about it. As a young person, you can change Nigeria by doing the right thing. Start first by cleaning your environment. Start first by sharing what you have with others. Start first by showing love to one another.”
He urged them to remain steadfast despite the nation’s current challenges. “Don’t mind the situation you find today. The evil you see today, you shall see them no more. The poverty around you today, you shall see them no more. Just believe strongly and have faith in your country. Your time will come, and Nigeria will change,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President emphasised the power of the mind, urging youths to adopt a positive outlook. “Do not be despair. Do not feel discouraged about this country. Just believe in this country. I am here to encourage you. The mind is stronger than the body. Ensure that your mind is stronger than your body,” he said.
He continued, “Believe in your mind that your country shall be better. Believe in your mind that you shall make it in life — and you will make it in life. Believe in your mind that you will be the agent of change for your generation, because the mind is stronger than the body.”
Akpabio also advised young Nigerians to think positively about their country, saying, “What I will say to the Nigerian child is to have a mindset, to have faith in Nigeria and to ensure that he thinks positively about this country, because what he thinks in his mind is what will happen to Nigeria.”
Speaking about the APC, the Senate President described the ruling party as a platform for transformation and stability. “APC is not an accident. APC is a dream that was well thought out. APC is a vehicle of transformation. APC is a vehicle of leadership. APC is a vehicle for change. APC is the only stable political party in Nigeria that will guarantee your electoral victory in the future,” he said.
Akpabio also reminded the youths that their time to lead is now, not later. “You are not just leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders of today. I decided to honour the National Youth Leader and all of you to be here tonight because I am a strong believer in the youth,” he stated.
“Tonight, I came to tell you, do not wait to be leaders of tomorrow. You are leaders of today. Discover your mission of uniting Nigeria. Discover your mission of loving one another. Discover your mission of gaining respect from the international community by ensuring that whatever responsibility bestowed on you, you carry it out diligently,” he added.
Responding to a question about what inspired him to join politics, Akpabio said, “Anger inspired me to go into politics. If you are not angry with the situation of your family — assuming you were born into a poor home — you will not be able to change that home. Anger inspired me to go into politics.”
In his welcome remarks, APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, said the essence of the interactive session was to inspire and challenge young people to be responsible leaders.
“The idea is to give our youths the opportunity to listen to the Senate President, to understand what inspired him, and to draw lessons that can motivate them to become better leaders,” he said.
The event ended with cheers from participants as Akpabio reaffirmed his faith in the Nigerian youth, urging them to remain hopeful and patriotic. “Do not be discouraged. Believe in Nigeria — because this is your country, and together, we will make it better,” he said.