The former United States ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington has identified corruption, lack of good leadership and foresight as responsible for most of the economic problems confronting the country and called for determination to effect changes through election of good leaders.
The diplomat while delivering the 29th convocation lecture of University of Ilorin also called for diversification from the oil as major source of revenue to improvement of agricultural sector through revitalizing of manufacturing sector.
The convocation, held at the auditorium of the university, was filled with students, academics and members of the public.
The lecture, titled ‘The Dawn Of Nigeria’s Second Century; Challenges To A New Generation’ was delivered by Mr. Carrington.
After tracing the history of the amalgamation of the country with the high hopes of Nigerians after independence, Carrington threw a question wondering where and how the country got it wrong with the collapse of nearly all the sectors few years after independence.
He noted that persistent poverty retarded the growth of the country and blamed successive country leaders for lack of foresight and corruption as responsible for the decline growth of the giant of Africa.
He also recommended constant change of bad leadership through democratic means and the need to focus less on proceeds from oil and diversify to improvement of agricultural sector in the next century to be respected among comity of nations.
He later paid a courtesy call on the Kwara state governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed where the governor enumerated various challenges facing the country since independence but assured of the resolve to always be together as one country despite the challenges.
With the challenges thrown by the former ambassador on how to revamp the economy and make life meaningful for ordinary Nigerians, it is hoped that the country’s leaders will hearken to the call and do the right thing for the country to move forward.
