Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji-Ishola, on Tuesday underscored the need for Nigerians to embrace attitudinal change to enhance national development.
Tunji-Ishola spoke at a public discussion organised by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme organised in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, has the theme, “Trust and National Development in Nigeria”.
The former envoy noted that it was important to build a culture of trust that would help continue enhancement of national development.
He explained that the culture of building trust started from family, the smallest unit of the society, “but unfortunately the culture of trust is fast disappearing at this very important period of our life.
“Trust building starts from the smallest part of the society, once trust is broken at this level it will only be graduating, if you can not trust your uncles, neighbours, how will you trust the local government.
“Also, if you don’t trust people at the local governments, how will you trust those at the state level and so on,” he said.
Tunji-Ishola said that Nigerians must imbibe high sense of patriotism where the development and progress of the country was prioritised by everyone irrespective of status and tribes to enhance mutual trust for national development.
He suggested that the country could think of adopting an indigenous lingua franca other than English that could help foster trust and national cohesion.
Earlier, former Resident Electoral Commissioner to Ogun and Anambra, Ahmed Raji, blamed poor electoral processes and failed campaign promises as among other factors fuelling distrust in national development.
Raji urged the youth to change the narrative such that people would begin to feel the effects of good governance at the grassroots.
In her submission, the Group Head, TVC Entertainment , Dr Morayo Afolabi-Brown, also emphasised on the need for young Nigerians to be orientated to experience a new Nigeria.
Afolabi-Brown urged the students to have change of heart and begin to do the right things at their own little corner to achieve a great nation.
The Head of Mass Communication Department of the institution, Dr Lanre Akinola, said that the essence of the public discussion was to see how the yawning gap of trust could be bridged and strive toward a better Nigeria.
