Nigeria at a Crossroads: Rinsola Abiola Calls for Return to Integrity and Service

By Morris Nor// Nigeria’s strength and future lie in the hands of its people, particularly the youth, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has said.

Abiola, who is the daughter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, made the remark on Tuesday at the Nigeria @65 Conference held at the Moni Lisa Event Centre, Abuja. The one-day event, themed “Restoring Values and Volunteerism Among the Youths,” was part of activities marking the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary.

The conference, organised by the CLTC, brought together youth leaders, students, government officials, and development partners from across the country. It also had in attendance representatives from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), the United Nations Office in Nigeria, and Aspitan Global, among others.

In her welcome address, Abiola urged Nigerians—especially young people—to rediscover the principles of discipline, patriotism, integrity, and service, which she described as the moral compass of a thriving society.

“This gathering is both timely and symbolic,” she said. “At 65, our nation stands at a critical point where the restoration of core values—integrity, discipline, service, and empathy—has become indispensable to our collective growth.”

Abiola explained that the CLTC was established to build character and promote national unity through citizenship and leadership education. According to her, the Centre remains committed to nurturing a new generation of patriotic citizens who understand that leadership begins with responsible citizenship.

“As we celebrate Nigeria at 65, let us rededicate ourselves to building a nation defined by values, service, and unity,” she added. “Every act of volunteerism, no matter how small, contributes to the greatness of our country.”

Abiola also commended partner agencies and private organisations for supporting the event, saying it provided an opportunity for reflection and action. She noted that the diversity of participants—from youth advocates to policymakers—demonstrated a shared belief in Nigeria’s potential.

The conference featured several distinguished speakers, including Future Africa co-founder Mr. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, who spoke on “The Power of One: How Volunteerism Can Reshape Our Nation,” and Professor Tunji Olaopa, whose keynote address, “Values-Driven Leadership,” explored how moral leadership can bridge the gap between aspiration and service.

Other sessions included the Youth Leadership Debate Finale, a panel on Grassroots Volunteerism and Policy Reform, and goodwill messages from representatives of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the United Nations Office in Nigeria.

The discussions, Abiola said, were designed to produce actionable insights that would inform government policy and strengthen youth engagement in national development.

As the conference concluded, participants echoed a common message: that the rebirth of Nigeria’s core values must begin with the individual.

Nigeria at a Crossroads: Rinsola Abiola Calls for Return to Integrity and Service“The task of nation-building is not solely for leaders,” Abiola reminded. “It begins with each of us, with the choices we make daily to uphold honesty, unity, and service.”

The event ended on a hopeful note, with participants urged to champion volunteerism and value-driven leadership as the pillars upon which Nigeria’s future would rest.