Ahead of Saturday’s flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, the Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals in Nigeria (FORCEPA) has announced the mobilisation of over 100,000 supporters for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The Forum, comprising chief executives of Federal Government agencies and parastatals, declared that President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima deserve another four years in office to consolidate the administration’s economic reforms and accelerate national development
Addressing a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, FORCEPA Chairman and Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, said members of the Forum had already been deployed to Kaduna to coordinate mobilisation, engage stakeholders, and ensure active participation in the campaign.
Raji, who described the Forum as a coalition of public-sector leaders committed to national development, said its members had resolved to deploy their professional networks, institutional experience, and grassroots influence toward securing another term for the present administration
According to him, President Tinubu has demonstrated sufficient courage in confronting Nigeria’s longstanding economic challenges, arguing that continuity is necessary to translate ongoing reforms into sustainable prosperity
“Our mobilisation of over 100,000 supporters reflects the seriousness with which we approach this responsibility and our belief that leadership must be supported by informed citizens, effective communication, and sustained engagement,” Raji said
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his courage in pursuing difficult economic reforms and believe that continuity, consolidation, and improved delivery offer Nigeria a pathway to greater prosperity
“We are determined to ensure that the contributions of Federal Government institutions are better understood by Nigerians and that the aspirations of our people remain central to the national development agenda,” he added
Raji explained that FORCEPA was established to harness the leadership experience, institutional knowledge, and professional networks of federal agency chief executives toward improving governance, public enlightenment, and citizen engagement
He said the Forum recognised the need to bridge the communication gap between government policies and ordinary Nigerians, particularly in areas relating to employment, economic opportunities, security, social welfare, entrepreneurship, and improved service delivery
The chairman acknowledged that despite the administration’s achievements, implementation challenges remain, stressing that the next phase of the Renewed Hope Agenda must focus on translating economic stabilisation into tangible improvements in citizens’ living conditions
Also speaking during the interactive session, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Chairman of FORCEPA’s Media and Publicity Committee, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, described Tinubu’s emergence as President as a blessing to Nigeria
Ajiboye drew parallels between the President’s current economic transformation agenda and his eight-year administration as Governor of Lagos State, arguing that the developmental initiatives introduced during that period provided evidence of his capacity for long-term planning
According to him, Nigerians should recognise the distinction between leaders who merely occupy political offices and those who possess the vision to initiate lasting developmental changes
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr Abisoye Fagade, urged Nigerians to change their attitudes toward the country and demonstrate greater confidence in its economic recovery.
Fagade maintained that the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians are products of decades of structural deficiencies that could not realistically be corrected within three years
He expressed confidence that the administration’s reforms are beginning to produce results, citing what he described as improvements in the prices of essential commodities, particularly rice
Adding his contribution, the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, said the administration’s industrialisation agenda offers a pathway toward reducing unemployment, increasing incomes, and strengthening Nigeria’s productive capacity
Ike-Muonso identified the continued export of unprocessed raw materials as a major obstacle to Nigeria’s industrial development, arguing that the country has failed for decades to derive maximum economic value from its abundant natural resources