Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged graduates in the country to harness their potential and actively contribute to the development of a prosperous future for Nigeria, rather than seeking opportunities abroad.

The call was conveyed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Wednesday.

Shettima gave the charge during a visit by the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who led the graduating class of the second cohort of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative to the Vice President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Vice President encouraged the graduates to reject disillusionment and embrace the untapped potential within Nigeria and urged them to shun mass migration to other countries better known as japa.

“Let no one make you feel inferior as a Nigerian. One out of every four black men is a Nigerian. Let no one deceive you that the grass is greener at the other end. Certainly, we can make it green on our home turf,” he said.

While acknowledging the country’s current challenges, Shettima presented a resolute vision for overcoming them. He assured that Nigeria would overcome difficulties, cross metaphorical obstacles, and usher in a period of opportunities and blessings.

“Our country is going through some difficulties and challenges, but we are going to surmount it. We are going to cross the Rubicon. We are going to cross the Red Sea and take you to the land of opportunities and blessings,” the vice president added.

He praised the graduates for their digital prowess and urged them to utilise their skills for national development. He challenged them to stay and contribute to the progress of the country, stating, “This is our country. The future belongs to you.”

Shettima shifted the focus of leadership from physical strength to intellectual agility, noting that the true hallmark of leadership lies in generating robust solutions to national problems. He expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to bounce back and encouraged the graduates to reject negativity.

“Their digital skills, combined with their newfound sense of purpose and national pride, have the potential to transform the nation’s landscape, and certainly we can make it green on our home turf,” he added.

In response, the founder of the LMI programme, Gbajabiamila, commended the exceptional qualities of the graduating cohort and highlighted the need for generational mentorship, expressing optimism about their capacity to achieve greater feats than previous generations.