By Ibrahim Magu
A Night of Honour, A Nation of Hope. Tonight, we are gathered not just to celebrate but to reaffirm. We are here to reaffirm our belief in the greatness of Nigeria, and in the power of her people especially her young people to carry this nation from potential to productivity, from promise to prosperity.
Let me begin by expressing my profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose leadership has continued to inspire bold thinking, courageous reforms, and a renewed commitment to national development.
Your Excellency, your dedication to youth empowerment, skills development, and institutional strengthening is not going unnoticed. Through your Renewed Hope Agenda, you are giving the next generation a reason to believe again — and tonight, we say thank you.
Corruption: The Enemy of Manpower and Progress. But as we celebrate, we must not become complacent. We must confront the bitter truth: Corruption remains the single greatest threat to manpower development in Nigeria.
When a nation invests billions in education but classrooms remain empty and under-equipped, corruption is at work. When our brightest minds leave the country not because of lack of talent but lack of opportunity, corruption is to blame.
When youth must pay bribes to get jobs, when contractors abandon training projects, when funds meant for empowerment end up in private accounts — then the bridge between potential and productivity begins to crack.
Let me be clear: Corruption kills innovation. It kills hope. And worst of all, it kills the spirit of the Nigerian youth.
Youth: The Architects of a New Nigeria: But I have faith. I have seen firsthand that our youth are not weak. They are not lazy. They are not waiting to be rescued.
They are ready to lead. They are building tech startups in Yaba, running farms in Nasarawa, driving fashion empires in Aba, and developing mobile apps in Kaduna.
What they need — and what they deserve — is a system that is clean, fair, and just.
A system where success is built on merit, not manipulation. A nation where hard work is rewarded and corruption is punished.
To the youth here tonight: You are the bridge.You are the ones who will take Nigeria forward — if you refuse to cut corners, if you choose integrity over impunity, and if you understand that true leadership begins with character.
Corruption is not just a government issue — it is a cultural issue. And it is up to you to break the cycle.
Building the Bridge: Our Shared Responsibility: If manpower is the engine of national development, then anti-corruption is the oil that keeps that engine running. We must do more than just train our people — we must protect the systems that ensure their training leads to impact.
This requires: Transparent recruitment processes. Efficient and accountable education spending.
Protection for whistleblowers and reformers.
Recognition for those who stand for integrity in public service and private industry.
Tonight, as we honour excellence, let us also honour integrity. Let us honour those who chose the harder right over the easier wrong.
Let us resolve — each one of us — to never be silent in the face of corruption.
Conclusion: A New Era is Possible:
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It has been said that a nation does not rise by the beauty of its intentions but by the courage of its actions. Let tonight be more than a gala.
Let it be a turning point. Let it mark the beginning of a new era where Nigerian manpower is not only developed but deployed, protected, and honoured.
Let us build this bridge together — brick by brick, truth by truth, and with the strength of every honest hand.
I believe in Nigeria. I believe in her youth. I believe the future is not far — it is here, it is now, and it is ours to shape.
Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
AIG Magu (rtd), the former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), delivered this Gala Night Speech at the National Industrial Manpower Summit 2025 with a theme titled: “Manpower Development – The Bridge Between Potential and Productivity”, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
