President Bola Tinubu has advised Nigerians in the United States to rise beyond failure by adopting a new mentality for success in all aspects of life.
Tinubu made the remarks during a Presidential Town Hall Meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora in New York on Wednesday, September 20.
It was reported that the Townhall Meeting was organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
He said: “I want to give you a measure that will resonate with you. I was once a diaspora. What you have been through, I have been through it. Change of mindset is necessary.
“Take it this night that Nigeria is home for business opportunities.
“Also, anywhere you stay, there is always going to be an opportunity in, and in everything you do, there is always going to be an opportunity, if you know how to search and put your mind into it,’’ he said.
The president also expressed satisfaction with the behaviour of Nigerians who have continued to flourish in their chosen sectors in their host nation.
He added: “You are lucky to be among those who are celebrated for good manners and behavior and are operating in an acceptable manner.
“I’m very proud of you; I have also been beneficial of inspiration, determination, commitment and perseverance and that is all you need to get through.
“But, we need you back home, Nigeria has arrived; forget the frustration of the previous year’s leadership,’’ he said.
Tinubu, who praised the efforts to educate out-of-school children, the healthcare programme, and the need to reduce poverty, stated that Nigeria is a blessed nation.
He added: “Sincerely, we don’t have any reason to be poor, we are just poor in some leadership areas.
“That is what I harped on during my campaign. It was a very gruesome campaign but I won the election but if I didn’t throw myself into it with strong determination and result, I wouldn’t have won.
“There were so many hurdles on my way that would have stopped me. I refuse to be stopped, you can do the same as many of you here that are contesting elections.”
In addition, he urged the Nigerians to embrace one another, urging that there should not be no sentiment and discrimination among them.
The president said: “You ought to embrace one another. No labeling, no identity, you should remove ethnic identify that tend to differentiate us.
“We are one single family, living in the same house but living in different rooms.”
