Standing Strong with the Solution

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I sincerely appreciate the honour of being your guest speaker today at this “Solution Youth Movement of Nigeria Leadership Summit”.

I commend all of you here as the leaders and members of this noble movement that propagates the lofty ideals of leadership as modelled by our exemplary leader, and Mr. Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, Odenigbo. Indeed, your vision and passion are laudable as the future rests on your shoulders!

Today, as assigned we shall be talking on the subject, Standing Strong with the Solution” (Soludo used interchangeably). To make it easier and better, I’ve taken the time to produce two documents in print to guide our discussion. The document shall be shared shortly. or probably after this address.

In 1984 Chukwuma Soludo graduated with first-class honours in economics from UNN, and was offered a plum job by Coopers & Lybrand, Africa’s leading and largest provider of professional accounting services, he resigned barely after three months. And went back to the university for further studies.

At some point, the late Dr Chu Okongwu, then Minister of Finance offered him a job as his Senior Special Assistant. He also turned down the offer and opted to engage in further studies abroad at the Brookings Institute, USA. That remarkable career transition of leaving a high-paying consulting job to become a lecturer exemplifies Soludo’s courage, passion, strong sense of purpose and thinking beyond monetary gains.

So we, the youth, should take inspiration from the story of Governor Chukwuma Soludo CFR, as inspiring and pragmatic leaders like him are not common.

He is not just a leader; he is a visionary, a radical thinker, an innovator, a solution provider and most importantly, someone who believes in the power of human capital for societal development.

Recall that a day after his inauguration as the governor of Anambra State, Soludo, in fulfilment of one of his campaign promises, visited Okpoko and promised to upgrade and make the slum environment habitable and livable. Within two years only, Okpoko has transformed into a livable layout with the provision of massive road infrastructure as has never been done before by any administration, solar street lights, a general hospital, and pipe-borne water. In addition, refuse mountains have given way to a more organised refuse collection process. His transformation of the Okpoko slum into a new heaven is a testimony to his commitment to his urban regeneration programme. That is why I stand Strongly with Solution.

(In those past years, those of us living in Onitsha used to chide the state government that they came to Onitsha to collect taxes and used it to plant flowers in Enugu.)

The problem with Nigerians is that many people can analyze our problems, complaining and lamenting daily; yet only a few offer solutions. As a practical solution provider, Governor Soludo was in his most analytical elements recently as a guest speaker at The Platform event, an annual national policy dialogue forum held in Lagos in commemoration of June 12 Democracy Day 2024. In his thought-provoking presentation, Governor Soludo not only comprehensively diagnosed what led to the current economic quagmire Nigeria is in today, but he also proffered solutions on the way out. Permit me to quote a few lines from some of his insightful statements at the PLATFORM dialogue.

Speaking on the reality of Nigeria’s current economic state, Governor Soludo said it as it is and I quote: “Let’s admit a fact which most Nigerians don’t seem to appreciate. Nigeria is a very poor country, and its public finance is broken. This admission is critical to any reasonable discourse on the road ahead. Given the humongous infrastructure deficit, the consolidated public sector (Federal Government and States) capital spending should be at least 10-15% of GDP per annum. Currently, it is less than 5%. Indeed, the entire budget of the FGN is probably less than 30% of what we need to be investing in infrastructure per annum.”

In finding a way out, Governor Soludo stated as follows: “There is an emergency, and incremental changes won’t cut it. Intentional systemic disruptions are urgently needed but it requires mass mobilization and ownership by the public. Suffice it to say that fixing the systemic insecurity, broken public finance and economy, broken oil and gas sector, infrastructure and environmental decay, rising social tensions, and restoring hope and confidence of the citizens would require us to try several roads not travelled – thinking and acting without any box!”

Thus, with dispassionate clarity and frankness, Governor Soludo in his Democracy Day discussion advocated bold disruptive reforms such as streamlining national spending, cutting the cost of governance, controlling borrowing, diversifying the economy from overdependence on oil, engaging personal sacrificial lifestyles as leaders, upholding patriotism by patronising made-in-Nigeria products, embracing a new national ethical re-orientation, adopting foundational restructuring through true federalism and devolution of powers to states, and so on.

Ladies and gentlemen, it takes a true visionary and statesman to propound such bold, far-reaching reforms for national recovery. That is why I am standing strong with the solution thinker and provider.

Professor Soludo is not only the kind of national leader that Nigeria needs now and in the future, but he is also the best game-changing leader that Anambra State can get today. Why do I say so? The evidence abounds all around us in his little over two impactful years as governor of our state.

Think about it. Contrary to the insinuations of some critics and cynics, Governor Soludo is not paying lip service to his grand vision of transforming Anambra into an African Dubai-Taiwan axis of sustainable prosperity; he is avidly laying the right foundations and investing in our future.

Governor Soludo’s vision for a prosperous and sustainable Anambra is evident in his tireless efforts to empower our citizens, especially the youth. His administration’s initiatives have not only improved the quality of life but also fostered a sense of hope and inclusivity. This is an empathetic leader who has vowed not to leave any Anambra citizen behind.

For instance, the governor’s commitment to education is unparalleled. He has not only recruited eight thousand plus qualified teachers for public schools, he has also upgraded our educational infrastructure, attracting international partnerships and scaling up access to quality education. The Governor has abolished school fees and Anambra’s truly free basic education has raised school enrolment by 18.7% and the incidence of out-of-school children is now the lowest in Nigeria out of the 36 states plus FCT. That is why I am standing strong with Mr. Solution.

The Soludo government’s free antenatal and free delivery services (including free CS operations) for pregnant women in all government health facilities in Anambra have seen more than 60,000 beneficiaries, with near zero mortality rate. All this is in addition to the recruitment of new healthcare professionals and the upgrade of several health facilities across the state.

And it does not stop there, Governor Soludo recognizes the potential in each of us. He understands that education alone is not enough, and therefore launched innovative programmes that empower us, the youth, to become entrepreneurs, to develop and acquire skills, and to be meaningfully and gainfully employed. One such youth-focused empowerment programme is the One Youth, Two Skills initiative which has made thousands of Anambra youths acquire valuable skills and secure seed capital to set up their businesses.

Another youth-friendly empowerment programme by the Soludo administration is the Solution Innovation District, a digital ecosystem through which our youths can acquire modern digital skills to stay competitive and secure well-paid jobs in the evolving digital economy. That is why I am standing strong with Mr. Solution.

Indeed, Governor Soludo’s innovative approach to youth employment has created opportunities for entrepreneurship, skills development, and job creation. His administration’s programmes have enabled young people to become drivers of economic growth, breaking the cycle of unemployment and poverty. The same empowerment impact is being made by Mr. Governor in agriculture, where hundreds of thousands of Anambra households have benefited from the distribution of free palm and coconut seedlings; thus priming Anambra for the agro-based economy and green revolution.

On-road infrastructure, constructions and rehabilitations have gone well above 266 kilometers across the 21 LGAs of the state. Verifiable data indicates that Governor Soludo has constructed more roads in two years than the total number done by any administration in the twenty-five years of democracy in Anambra; and several other sectors that time and space won’t allow me to mention here.

My fellow youths, some more personal and touching attributes of effective leadership in Governor Soludo that made me keep Standing Strong with the Solution include his simplicity, empathy, modesty, prudence, and patriotism despite his intimidating achievements as a first-class international itinerant scholar and former CBN governor.

For instance, Governor Soludo does not take his earned salaries just to save money for the development of the state. There is no formal office of the First Lady in Anambra State, and his wife does not have official cars nor is there any budgetary allocation to her as was the case with past administrations. Mr. Governor himself shows patriotism by wearing Akwaete fabrics made by women in Abia State. Above all, he has been a leading promoter of Made in Nigeria products. Since he assumed office his official car has remained Innoson vehicles only.

All the foregoing, my friends, add up to the true essence of leadership – not just holding a title, but building a future where every young Nigerian has the opportunity to thrive. That is why Governor Soludo is also a leader worth admiring and emulating because he places a high premium on meritocracy and excellence. This shows in his Pan-Nigerian liberalism that does not discriminate against people based on their state of origin, ethnic label or whatever. Governor Soludo has employed many people who work with him and for Anambra, but are not from Anambra State.

As General Colin Powell once said, “Effective leaders are those who can articulate a clear and compelling vision, who can inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal, and who can create an environment in which people can grow and thrive.” Governor Soludo embodies this perfectly. He doesn’t just tell us what to do; he inspires us to believe in ourselves and a brighter Anambra. This is what we, the youth of Nigeria and Anambra State, need to carry forward. We need leaders who offer pragmatic solutions, embrace innovation, prioritize human capital, show worthy personal examples and foster a sense of inclusivity and ownership. All these and more are why I keep Standing Strong with the Solution today.

And I encourage you all here to also let Governor Soludo continue to be your radiant ray of hope. Let his achievements be a challenge to us to rise and be up and running. You, the future leaders of Anambra, nay Nigeria, must stand strong with the solution. You must articulate a vision for a better Nigeria, a vision that empowers fellow youths, invests in education, and unlocks our entrepreneurial spirit.

Let us be the generation that breaks down barriers, that builds a society where every young person has the chance to reach their full potential. Soludo offers us the opportunity to be the generation that leads Nigeria and Anambra State to a brighter future, that is why I stand strongly with Solution.

I have always stood for a unified body of followers in this journey… ASSG. And to that, we all belong, even as we are mindful of the fact that assorted ensures the efficacy of a medicine. That is why the Igbo will say that assertiveness causes marketplace noise.

Finally, let me make a call, may those present today who stand strongly with Solution, stand and give Mr. Solution, Mr. Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, seven Gbosa acclamation…

Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa! Gbosa!

THANK YOU,

GOD BLESS ANAMBRA STATE,

Standing Strong with the Solution

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