Dr. Victor Oladokun is an internationally recognized speaker and media personality, a guru in PR and broadcasting, a Pastor, and the CEO of 3D Global Leadership, a media consultancy company.

Mounting the podium, he noted how being back at Platform is a wonderful privilege. He started by stating how creating a Nigeria we can all be proud of has become a matter of urgency for us all, and that Nigeria of our dreams is possible when we begin to make the right choices.

He pointed out that there is a huge difference between leaders and titles. We need a true leader, not just in title, but in action. As a nation, we need a president who brings critical capacity into office. He defined “Visionary leadership” as the capacity to see a desirable future long before it arrives and the ability to bring it into the present by influencing, inspiring, and using the gifts and talents of others.’’ In essence, he noted that visionary leaders know where they are going, they know what they are doing and how they intend to go where they are going and they intend to go with.

Dr. Oladokun notes and asks that If Dubai, South Korea, and Rwanda can experience transformation in a single generation, then why not Nigeria? He strongly believes that this is possible. He spoke of lessons Nigeria can take away from the transformational journey of Dubai. The speaker recalls how 22 years ago, most of what you see right now did not exist except in the minds of the rulers and architects of the nation, but they believed that it was possible to pull it off in Dubai. Now they have done so. The belief system was nurtured by a leader and instilled in the public consciousness. Now, fast forward to 2022, what was once a dream has become a reality.

Today, Dubai is still not done, even though they have done massively well, they already have a plan called Dubai 2020, and we can only imagine what the next 20 years will look like. In his words, “The future is not a matter of chance, accident, fate or wishful thinking. For better or for worse, the future is what we created it to be and what we designed it to be. ‘Ego better, e go better, na im put us for where we are today…” The proverbial “better tomorrow” is only a consequence of our cumulative actions and our words and our policies on a day-to-day basis.’’

Speaking further, Dr Victor says there are questions that the next President must be asked:

Mr. President, what future do you have in mind for Nigeria? Do you have a clear vision or roadmap for where Nigeria will and should be in twenty years? Is your vision grounded in reality? A reality that people can be excited to buy into. Do you have an idea of the composition of your government? Have you identified the Nigerians, young and old, home and abroad that you intend to bring into your government? Will you go about the business of going about the business of the transformation of Nigeria, or will you spend the next four or eight years blaming the previous administrations or party? Do you have the mental, emotional or physical stamina needed to stir this complex and diverse nation we can all believe in and be proud of?

For the next president of Nigeria, “the stakes are too high, but the choice will be in your hands”, he stated.

Speaking further on what Nigeria needs from the next president, he identifies three of such as, first, ‘A recognition that the sole purpose of the position he will occupy is not power for its sake, but the desire to bring the kind of future that Nigeria wants by all means possible. This will require boldness, clarity of mind, intellect, the ability to build a winning team from day one, the capacity to bring along

others to the pathway of communication, transparency, and accountability from the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government, and radical reforms within the civil service.’’

The second thing is that the next president of Nigeria must decide how he wants to lead, shape and configure Nigeria. And thirdly, what Nigeria needs from the next president is the willingness and the political resolve to make a deliberate choice about the future he wants. Of which he however can only make one choice.

Dr. Victor goes on to say there are four possible scenarios that can be generated from actions, inactions, and choices made, of which just one can be created based on the choices of the next president. His actions, inactions, visions, and words will determine the future of Nigeria over the next eight years.

Scenario I – Status quo. In this scenario, Nigeria remains pretty much the same with all of the problems and challenges. No going forward, no going backward. This is the first choice.

Scenario two- Regression. In every case, at every level of social and economic development, in Nigeria instead of staying the same, begins to decline. If we refuse to innovate in the face of global change, this is what we will get.

Scenario 3 – Total Chaos. In this scenario, the challenges we have faced for decades can tear this nation apart. This also is a choice.

Scenario 4 – based on the decision of the next president is what the speaker refers to as the Nigerian of our dreams. This is the one Nigeria with beauty diversity where even our very own worse critic will pause and admit that there is something truly exceptional about Nigeria and Nigerians.

Every scenario is the result of choices made.

The Nigeria of our collective dream is possible. We need a president with a sense of fairness, the spirit of our fathers that give every Nigerian a sense of belonging regardless of where they are from.

The next question as addressed by the speaker is ‘How are we going to get there? How are we going to get the nations of our dream?’

First, we must recognize that Nigeria is a system, comprising of states, local governments, and smaller units, and if any of these systems are dysfunctional, how can we expect a whole nation?

Secondly, we must give power to the people. ‘’By this I mean electricity’’, stating that even God, on the first day of creation, said let there be light. Energy is fundamental to everything else and there cannot be development without energy.

Third, we must develop the environment and sustainable communities in the face of climate change and its devastating effect. What kind of future are we planning for ourselves and the nations that we are growing in?

Fourth, Education. In his words, ‘’No nation looks the other way while its Universities and Polytechnics are shut down for almost a year and nobody says anything. We must fix the problem; we must find solutions’’.

Fifth, we must invest smartly in Agriculture. He says this is a no-brainer because of the massive impact it has on the nation. He notes that Agriculture can become the greatest asset for Nigeria if handled well.

And on the sixth point is the Creativity of the Nigerian youth. In spite of the generational

governmental neglect, they have flourished in places like art, and entertainment. In his words, ‘’this generation of brand ambassadors have done more for the nation’s image than the best PR that money can buy’’. The next president must leverage on the support of this dynamic generation.

Dr Victor notes that lastly, for Nigeria to achieve the nation of our dreams, we must solve the security problem. Presently, there are 2.8million Nigerians living as internally displaced persons. The devastating effect of this on the entire nation cannot be overemphasized. We must create a secure Nigeria to attract the right investment for our nation.

Conclusively, Dr Victor notes that the future is knocking on the door. The Nigeria of our dream is a choice and for the next president of our country, what scenario will it be?

The speaker ended his session with a much-needed prayer, ‘’May God give the next president of the federal republic of Nigeria the vision, the wisdom, and the boldness to make the right choices. ‘’ Amen.