Nigeria, Oct. 2 -- On 1 October, 1960, the Union Jack was lowered and the green-white-green rose for the first time at Tafawa Balewa Square. That moment marked Nigeria's entry into self-rule. Sixty-five years later, the flag still waves, but the meaning of independence continues to evolve. The challenge before us is not whether Nigeria is free, but whether that freedom is being translated into prosperity, stability, and global influence. Independence at 65 calls for converting resilience into leadership and collective ambition into measurable progress.

Nigeria has grown into Africa's most populous country, with more than 220 million citizens, projected to exceed 400 million by 2050. One in every twenty people on earth will soon be Nigeri...