Public Lecture Held In Honour Of VP’s 64th Birthday Titled “Building The Future Of Nigeria Through Enterprise & Innovation” On 08/03/2021

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On Monday, a one-day public lecture series titled, Building the Future of Nigeria Through Enterprise and Innovation was held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, in commemoration of VP Osinbajo’s 64th birthday anniversary.

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, who gave the opening remarks, noted that the theme of the lecture was very significant, because “the Vice President is a very strong advocate of enterprise and innovation and has been championing the role of young Nigerians in driving the revolution that will reposition the country as a foremost economy hub for the continent.”

Governor Abdullahi Sule said, “We have gathered today in honour of a most worthy Nigerian, His Excellency, the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on his 64th birthday. We are not just here to celebrate the man, but we also celebrate his values, commitments, and the ideals he stands for. What are his ideals? They include empathy, compassion, integrity, open-mindedness, humanity, commitment to nation-building and an unyielding belief in our capacity as Nigerians to solve our problems.”

In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, commended the Vice President for his patriotism and selfless service to the country.

According to Rewane, VP Osinbajo has “numerous accomplishments” and has made significant “contributions to the Nigerian project.”

He said, “I can say categorically that prof made things happen when he was lecturing at the University of Lagos. He made things happen in Lagos state, on the board of Citibank, in the legal system of Nigeria as attorney-general of Lagos state, including judicial reform. He also made things happen as a clergyman. He has also tried to make things happen in the difficult terrain of Nigerian politics. I have witnessed him as a policymaker, a lecturer, a man of faith, and a solicitor to a good friend of mine.

“I remember once again under his stewardship, the adoption of the I&E window, which was a major achievement in stabilising the naira at a time of turbulence in the 2016-17 recession. Nigeria today has made remarkable achievements in the ease of doing business matrix. Nigeria is the leading country according to The Economist Pocket Book of Figures with 39.9 percent of its citizens either as nascent or direct entrepreneurs… Where you place Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will depend on your judgment of his numerous accomplishments and contributions to the Nigerian project.”

When Prof. Osinbajo joined the event virtually via Zoom, the MC led as the audience sang a Happy Birthday song to the VP who expressed his pleasant surprise and appreciation.

He said, “Thank you very much indeed. Let me say how completely overwhelmed I am by this webinar. I must confess that I was not told, it really came as a surprise. As a matter of fact, I really had to struggle to get the link so that I could find out what was really going on, perhaps to be able to thank those who organised it. I just want to thank you all for this wonderful surprise and I pray that all of you will also be celebrated in your various places; the Lord Almighty will bless and keep you, and our country, which we love so much. We will see, in our lifetime, the glory of our country.”

Also, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebsola, said, “We are here to celebrate a man who has distinguished himself virtually in every area of life. Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo is a determined patriot that is committed to the advancement of Nigeria.”

Other dignitaries at the event include the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Oga. The Governor of Yobe State who was represented at the event.

 Others are former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Usani Usani; the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq; APC National Secretary, John James Akpan Udo-Edehe; among others.