A United States-based and Nigerian-born cleric, Pastor Sola Fabunmi, has advised the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to invest heavily in women and youth development.
Pastor Fabunmi is of Miracle Valley Ministry Gaithersburg, Maryland
The man of God, who is also Lead Pastor, City of Faith Church, The Redeemed Curch of God , Gaithersburg Maryland, congratulated the incoming President and also expressed his admiration for his personality.
He said the President-elect should leverage his philosophy of building men and institutions to develop Nigeria, declaring his support for his administration. Pastor Fabunmi spoke in an open letter to Tinubu.
The letter reads:’’Your administration will be successful, keep building people and institutions.
‘’Your Excellency, l want to first congratulate you on your victory at the polls, and in advance on your inauguration as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
‘’I sincerely salute your sheer determination to stay committed to your long-term dream and particularly acknowledge your philosophy of building men and institutions along the way to fulfilling your dreams. This is the philosophy that has confirmed your dream of becoming the President even though some people want to shy away from this truth.
‘’Iam writing to you as one of many concerned and patriotic Nigerians in the diaspora, as a person who has a stake in the Nigerian project and strongly believe in the development of Nigeria. And above all, as a servant of Almighty God who knows that God rules in the affairs of men.
‘’Mr President-elect, as your tenure will officially commence on Monday, 29th of May, 2023, I want to recommend the following pieces of advice which I know will greatly benefit your administration.
‘’Firstly , it is clear that no one can lead without facing criticism, and a very serious one at that as a President of a Nation. Although, I understand that criticism is not strange as you have faced lots of objections in the past and even in the current times. Please, do not allow this ephemeral persecution to build a barrier between your government and any part of the country. Ruling as an unbiased President of all Nigerians regardless of whatever hate thrown at you will benefit your government and earn you respect from across the world.
‘’Please , restore love among the Nigerian tribes. The people are so divided along ethnic, religious and political lines. It is only by working together can we ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to the growth and development of the country.
‘’Having addressed the above, Your Excellency, I need to inform you that what fuels my interest in you is your philosophy of building men and institutions. It is only the wise that do that because “building people and institutions is like building a solid foundation for a towering skyscraper. It requires a strong vision, careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence.” This quality is what anyone cannot deny about you and it is also on this ideological stance that I implore you to rule Nigeria.
‘’Critical to the above-mentioned are women and youth development because these two play a critical role in promoting socioeconomic and political stability, as they are often at the forefront of grassroots movements and advocacy efforts.
Read Also: Open letter to President-elect Bola Tinubu
“A country’s development is closely tied to the growth and empowerment of its women and youth. Investing in their education, health, and economic opportunities can lead to significant increases in productivity, innovation, and overall well-being, ultimately contributing to the nation’s growth and prosperity.”
‘’Mr President-Elect, increasing women’s participation in the workforce will have a positive impact on a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) because women, especially at the grassroots, are often responsible for a significant portion of household spending. Oftentimes, it is women that can sacrifice their material needs to keep the family together with their little income. Therefore, investment in their education and training is proportional to an increase in productivity and higher incomes.
‘’Similarly, with the sophistication and brilliance of the Nigerian youths, deliberate investment in youth education and training, especially in IT, will lead to more creative ideas for solving the nation’s complex problems and building an innovative workforce, which can drive economic growth and development.
In addition, knowing that women and youth are often disproportionately affected by poverty and lack of access to education and economic opportunities, genuine investment in their development can help break the yoke of poverty and issues of inequality in Nigeria.
‘’I know that is not going to be a herculean task for you to achieve this being an expert in the area of human development, which has characterized your entire exploit in the Nigerian political space. Do this again as President, develop the youths, women and entire Nigerians and watch your success soar as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
‘’And above all Mr President- Elect, make God your number one guide, place God at the forefront of your policies and decision-making. Humans can fail and falter but God remains faithful.
Please, borrow a cue from former US leader, President George W. Bush who made it a priority to promote faith-based initiatives, which aimed to provide social services through religious organizations.
‘’Faith-based organizations can indeed address many of the social issues facing any Nation. Their involvement would help to strengthen communities and promote individual responsibility. This can work in Nigeria even with the country’s diverse religious beliefs.
‘’In conclusion, please note that myself and my faith associates are solidly behind you. We will continue to support you in prayers and continue to contribute our quota to the development of Nigeria.
May the good Lord bless you with solomonic wisdom, unfailing health and reliable strength as you lead Nigeria to enviable heights.
God will continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Congratulations, once again, Your Excellency.
Pastor Sola FABUNMI.
*President, Miracle Valley Ministries, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
*Coordinator, Praying Army International
*Lead Pastor, City of Faith Church, RCCG, Gaithersburg, Maryland.