By Mustafa Abubakar

The Director of the Linguistics Immersion Centre, University of Ilorin, Prof. Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf, has advised Nigerians to see the nation’s independence not just as a celebration but as an opportunity for sincere national renewal.

Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin last Tuesday (October1, 2025), Prof. Yusuf explained that the nation’s situation calls for critical reflection rather than mere festivity.

The scholar also urged the government to urgently address the plight of Nigerian workers, stressing that their welfare and conditions should be improved to make them comparable with their peers across West Africa.

He called on the government to do more to restore safety and security across the country. “In our student days, one could travel freely even at night. But today, the situation is different,” he said.

The Professor of Islamic Studies emphasised the need for leaders to listen to patriotic advice and also charged opinion leaders across sectors to rise to their moral responsibilities.

Prof. Yusuf urged Nigerians not to lose hope, stressing, “I do not lose hope in Nigeria as a country. Despite the challenges, with discipline, sincerity, and collective effort, Nigeria will return to the path of peace and progress.”