There is a lot to celebrate over visit of French President Emmanuel, Macron to Nigeria, particularly the need for the country to take its cultural identity and potentials more seriously, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has said.
Obi, foremost motivational speaker currently preoccupied with how the Nigerian government could raise the bar to create a workable model capable leapfrogging the country into a world-class economy through the exploitation of its huge human and material resources, said the visit would make a lot of positive impacts in this direction.
Describing it as “a positive development,” Obi who spoke as part of the dignitaries that received the French President at Fela’s Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, was elated that Macron had opened the eyes of those who did not know of how far the nation’s culture was appreciated all over the world.
Obi said that he listened carefully to the speech by the French President, especially his exhortation to the youth of Nigeria to become active in politics through active participation and was in total agreement with his proposal.
He said, he also agreed to the submission of the French President that for the country to witness the type of political renaissance needed for growth, the youth must take over their country by making sure that they elect only people with track records in management of people and resources.
Macron at Afikan Shrine
Reviewing the visit of the French President, Obi described it as clear evidence that Nigeria still holds a lot of promises among the international communities in spite of her challenges.
Obi, who expressed happiness over the choice of Afrika Shrine for the event said that it was a clarion call on Nigerians to pay more attention to their culture, their identity, against the mad embrace of foreign culture with its attendant erosion of Nigeria’s cultural values. He said he was happy at the participation of Nollywood at the event, saying it was a statement that Government should support them more. “Beyond bearing part of our cultural heritage, they have the capacity of contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Obi said.
The French President was received in Lagos by the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; the former governors Obi (Anambra), Segun Osoba (Ogun) and Donald Duke (Cross River); as well as Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka; senior lawyer Femi Falana; and Senator Ben Bruce, among others.
.Whirlwindnews