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LIFE AT 60: SENIOR CITIZENS, GOVERNMENT’S ROLE AND THE CITIZENS’ PACT
Being the Text of a Keynote Address by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the 60th Birthday Celebration of Citizen Bolaji Oluwayanmife Akinyemi
Protocol
1. The destiny of a nation is shaped by the philosophy and moral ethos of its citizens. Greatness does not merely happen because it is desired; it is the outcome of the consistent efforts of the citizens to make demands on themselves and those at the helm of affairs. Moving from the nadir to a place of comfort on any development frontline invites continuous engagement by ordinary men and women — traders, artisans, housewives and bus drivers — asking questions, demanding accountability and insisting on a better deal for themselves and their children. However, while the voices of everyday people remain critical in determining the fate of a community, whether it becomes prosperous or remain in a place of reproach, it is ultimately the men and women of influence, in and out of positions of privilege, that eventually give the final seal on what becomes the most enduring identity of a society. Privileges are therefore not trophies to be displayed for applause but a call to be attentive to the burdens of the society — an obligation to challenge events that take away from the dignity of fellow citizens. In the end, it is the awareness that personal accomplishments do not exempt one from the responsibility of empathy.
2. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have gathered this afternoon to celebrate a man who clearly understands the place of empathy when building the foundational structures of a society. Let me on this note, join everyone in this auditorium to welcome Apostle Bolaji Oluwayanmife Akinyemi to the 6th floor of life. Congratulations are in order especially in the light of the fact that his life has been modelled on the values of courage and honesty; firmed on the philosophy of stewardship — the understanding that we are merely caretakers, not owners of the privileges that the benevolence of the Creator has bestowed on us. Happy birthday, dear apostle of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — a conscious citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The joy, enthusiasm and general atmosphere of gratitude around this venue bear eloquent testimonies to how lives and expectations have been shaped by the work that you do for the kingdom of God and through your advocacy as a civic leader in the wider national space. May I, once again, congratulate our dear brother for his years of steadfast service to humanity and for finding the right channels of expressions for his calling. Like every family member, friend and well-wisher here in this room and across the globe, I pray God to continue to bless, strengthen and expand your span of influence in the years ahead. Happy birthday, dear Citizen.
3. Milestone birthdays like Diamond Jubilee, present occasions for varying expressions; for some, it is a time of loud celebrations and everything in-between. For our dear Citizen Akinyemi, however, this special anniversary is best dedicated to holding a pointed conversation on national renewal, citizenship and of course, leadership. Let me thank the celebrant specially for the humility of making this remarkable event less about himself and more about the country and the generations after. For our country to make genuine progress, we need to rebuild the education and socio-cultural systems that produced patriots and selfless visionaries like Citizen Akinyemi. We remain infinitely grateful to the Almighty God for the gift of quality and thoughtful minds — individuals like the man we have gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his birth.
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