Kenneth Ukeagu, National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has voiced his concern over the ongoing economic hardship in Nigeria, emphasizing that these challenges are deeply rooted in the behavior of the citizens, not just the actions of the government.
Speaking at the 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant Ceremony organized by the Connak Foundation in Abuja on Saturday evening, Ukeagu argued that governance reflects the broader society, and as such, Nigerians must take responsibility for the economic difficulties the country faces.
He stressed that nation-building requires collective effort and that it is unfair to place all the blame on the government and public officials without considering the role of the average citizen in contributing to systemic dysfunction through unethical practices.
“I want you to understand that it is not an overnight process.
You don’t start today and achieve results the next day.
It requires commitment, devotion, and discipline.
The truth is that we, Nigerians, are the problem.
Those who form our government come from the society, and those who push them to act wrongly are part of the system,” Ukeagu said.
He illustrated his point by highlighting everyday scenarios where individuals contribute to the economic issues.
“From the person who shuts down their petrol station because they’ve heard there will be a scarcity tomorrow, to the one who takes pleasure in seeing long queues after deliberately closing their station to make extra profit on the black market—these are Nigerians, not the government.
Even the woman selling vegetables in the market will cite exchange rates as the reason for increasing prices, despite having grown her produce in her backyard.
She doesn’t work for the Central Bank of Nigeria. She is a Nigerian.
We all have a responsibility to empower and support each other.
Yes, there are shortcuts, but these so-called shortcuts also demand a great deal of hard work,” he added.
Supporting these sentiments, Mrs. Carol Sunday, Chief Executive Officer of the Connak Foundation, emphasized the dangers of seeking shortcuts, noting that they often lead to disastrous outcomes.
She reiterated the foundation’s commitment to aiding the government through empowerment initiatives, investment in human capital development, and promoting ethical practices to help the nation overcome its economic challenges.
“We believe in human capital development, and most of our thematic areas have always focused on helping people, as our motto suggests.
But now, it has expanded to the whole nation. Every geopolitical zone is represented here today, and that is how we have always operated.
Today, we have over 500 youths under our scholarship scheme.
We started the entrepreneurship programme with about 100 participants, and now we are training over 25,000,” Sunday said.
