As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence anniversary, Onyekachukwu Mabel Adinkwu, PhD, has called for a fundamental rethink of how Delta State’s natural resources are harnessed to create opportunities for its people.
Adinkwu, in an Independence Day message supporting the vision of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of independence and the responsibilities that come with it.
She questioned whether independence could be considered meaningful if the wealth beneath the land does not translate into opportunities for the people living on it.
“What does independence mean if the wealth beneath our feet does not create opportunity for the people who live upon the land?” she asked.
Adinkwu also challenged Nigerians, particularly the people of Delta State, to consider what future generations would inherit if longstanding challenges remained unresolved.
“What does freedom mean if generations after us inherit the same problems, the same excuses and the same unfinished promises?” she asked.
According to her, independence should not merely be viewed as freedom from external control but also as the responsibility to deliberately shape the future through better systems, courageous decisions and purposeful action.
She said Delta State must move beyond celebrating its enormous potential and begin to focus more critically on what has been achieved with its resources and what needs to change.
“For Delta State, we must refuse to mistake potential for progress. We have talked enough about what Delta has. The harder conversation is what we have done with what we have and what we are prepared to do differently,” she said.
Adinkwu maintained that the state’s resources should translate into tangible economic and social value, while its communities should provide greater opportunities for residents, particularly young people.
“Our young people must see a future here, not merely a reason to ‘Japa’,” she said, using the popular Nigerian expression for emigrating abroad in search of better opportunities.
She further called for a departure from established approaches that, in her view, have failed to deliver the desired transformation.
“We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect a different Delta,” she said.
Adinkwu described the next phase of development as requiring an “independence of thought, courage and action”—one that would enable citizens to challenge longstanding practices, rebuild neglected institutions and imagine new possibilities for the state.
“The Delta we want will not happen by wishing for it. We must choose it. We must build it,” she added.
She concluded her message with a call for a renewed commitment to the development of Delta State, under the banner: “Regenerate, Rebuild, A New Delta with Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru.”
Happy Independence Day!
