Tinubu’s Independence Day Speech: 65 Years of Trials, Triumphs, and a Call for Nigeria’s Comeback

By: Abudu Olalekan

October 1, 2025. Nigeria hits 65. Independence from British chains. Folks worldwide celebrate—parades in Lagos, quiet toasts in diaspora spots. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu takes the stage. Congrats the nation. It’s reflection time, he says. That journey since ’60. Founding fathers snatching self-rule. Their sacrifices. Big dreams. A powerhouse Nigeria. Leading Africa. Shining for the black world.

He tips hat to the legends. Macaulay. Azikiwe. Balewa. Awolowo. Bello. Ekpo. Enahoro. Akintola. Okpara. Kano. Ransome-Kuti. Nationalists all. They figured Nigeria’s fate: Guide the black race. Giant on earth. But promises got battered. Social rifts. Economic punches. Political fires. Decades of it. We endured. Dreams not fully grabbed, okay. But stayed true. 65 years: Growth in economy. Social glue. Buildings rising. GDP swelled since ’60.

Don’t just chase ideals, Tinubu urges. Spot the wins. Education leaped. ’60? 120 high schools, 130,000 kids. Now 23,000-plus schools. Unis? From Ibadan and Yaba to 274. Polys 183. Ed colleges 236. Mix of fed, state, private. Healthcare upgraded. Infra booms. Finance, factories, phones, tech, planes, defense—all up.

Good times, bad. Civil war—bitter, needless. Coups. Turmoil. Storms hit hard. But courage won. Grit. We push for better union. Every Nigerian housed, purposeful. Ties strain from dark forces. Still, we build.

Third speech on this day for him. Since May ’23. 28 months committed. Like forebears. Nation-building unfinished. Took over wrecked economy. Policy twists crippled it. Choice: Coast or reform? Went bold. Future over now. Seeds grow. Three years in.

Reset mode. Killed shady subsidies. Multiple FX rates feeding elites, starving rest. Cash rerouted. Inclusive now. Funds to schools, clinics, security, farms. Roads, juice, net, social aids. Life improves. Tiers of gov richer. Help bottom rung. Dev challenges tackled.

Time races. Build roads fresh. Fix old ones. Schools for kids. Hospitals waiting. Plan ahead. Power short today. Roads crumbling. Ports, rails, airports lag—past sins. We’re fixing.

Corner turned. Worst done. Pains ease. Salutes endurance. He’ll steer safe. Economy speeds. Reforms pay. Q2 GDP 4.23%. Fastest four years. Tops IMF 3.4%. Inflation 20.12% August—three-year low. Ag boost. Food secure. Prices drop.

12 milestones. Fiscal magic. Non-oil rev record: N20T by August. Sept? N3.65T. 411% over May ’23. Debt ratio 97% to <50%. Cleared Ways and Means. Subsidy gone—trillions free for real econ, vuln folks, govs. Reserves $42B. Highest ’19. Tax-GDP 13.5% from <10%. New law widens base, eases poor.

Net exporter. Surplus five quarters. 44% up Q2 to N7.46T. Mfg exports +173%. Non-oil 48%, oil 52%. Diversify. Oil 1.68M bpd from 1M. Security, cash, Delta peace. Refine PMS home—first 40 years. Top jet fuel seller Africa.

Naira calm. No ’23-’24 chaos. Official-black gap shrinks. Reforms, inflows. Multi-rates history. Not oil-tied. Social: N330B to 8M homes. N25K tranches. Coal: -22% to +57.5%. Minerals key. Transport surge: Rail +40%, water +27%. Kano-Maradi near. Kaduna-Kano too. Highways roll. $3B Eastern Rail.

World sees. Ratings up. Stocks 55K to 142K. CBN cuts rates—first five years. Stable.

Security grind. Forces tireless. Sacrifices. Win vs terror, bandits. Boko North-East. IPOB South-East. Kidnaps. Blood, sweat. Peace returns. Communities free. Thousands home. Salute heroes.

Youth call. You future. Assets. Dream huge. Innovate. Tech, sports, arts. Wings from us. NELFUND: 510K students, 228 insts. N99.5B loans. N44.7B upkeep. Credicorp: 153K, N30B for cars, solar, homes, gadgets. YouthCred real—NYSC thousands credit. iDICE: BOI with AfDB, French, Islamic banks. Tech-creatives funded. Cusp launch.

Hope message. Reforms pain—inflation stings, costs high. But chaos no go. Progress proves. Foundation concrete. Success? Food, schools, power, safety. Resources there. Govs, locals dev more.

65th: Hope. Action. Feds fix econ pipes. You? Productivity taps. Like passports faster. Subs join build. Producers, not buyers. Farm. Factories. Buy local. Nigeria first. Taxes.

All in. Believe potential. God sides. New dawn. Prosperous. Self-reliant.

Happy 65th. Bless Nigeria.

Amen.

Tinubu signs. Villa. C-in-C.