By Ekunkonye Junior, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, received the _Award of Excellence in Public Service_ from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Friday evening at OAU Oduduwa Hall in Ile-Ife, using the occasion to assert that Nigeria’s future will be shaped by “the level of unity, institutional reform and renewed national spirit embodied by citizens.”
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the award carries weight beyond personal recognition, reaffirming his belief that “Nigeria is rising” on the strength of collective resolve. He stated that national renewal is no longer an aspiration but a journey strengthened by courage, faith, and shared responsibility.
Highlighting key reforms since assuming office in 2023, the minister noted that “the automation of passport processes and backlog clearance has improved border management and enhanced professionalism in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).”
He linked these reforms to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s _Renewed Hope Agenda_, describing the President’s vision as a mandate for efficiency, compassion, and national confidence.
Tunji-Ojo reiterated that the recent automation of passport processes was implemented to strengthen border management and boost professionalism within NIS.
“The automation of passport processes and backlog clearance has directly improved border management and enhanced professionalism in the NIS,” he declared.
He stressed that Nigeria’s future hinges on “the level of unity, institutional reform, and renewed national spirit embodied by its citizens,” noting that the award symbolizes collective national resolve rather than personal recognition.
“Nigeria is rising, not because our challenges have disappeared, but because our resolve is stronger than ever,” he added.
The minister underscored that national renewal is an ongoing journey fueled by courage, faith, and shared responsibility, urging continued commitment to national renewal with “renewed faith, courage, and hope.”
Addressing OAU students, Tunji-Ojo affirmed that Nigerian youth remain the country’s most powerful asset. “You are the keepers of the future. Your ideas, courage, conviction, and curiosity will determine the direction of our nation,” he said, urging them not to let current hardships blur their vision of the Nigeria they wish to build.
He cited Nelson Mandela’s assertion that “education is the most powerful weapon for change,” reinforcing the role of youth in national development. Tunji-Ojo dedicated the award to young Nigerians, civil servants, his family, and President Tinubu, whose commitment to reform continues to energize national renewal.
Tunji-Ojo expressed gratitude to OAU leadership for upholding a tradition of intellectual integrity and national service. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the framework for institutional transformation through the _Renewed Hope Agenda_.
Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, praised the minister as an “ambassador of the university” who has consistently demonstrated solution‑oriented leadership, commending him for providing effective services and strategic leadership across the nation.
