By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ms. Patience Key, has called on Nigerians to keep the hope alive  on nation’s future in spite of the current socio-economic challenges.

Key in in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. said that celebrating 66 years of nationhood required honest self-reflection, public accountability, and prioritising human dignity over empty political rhetoric.

“No matter what, Nigeria is rising. Those words are not a claim that every problem has been solved; they are a declaration that our problems must not be allowed to have the final word.

“They express a determination to face reality without surrendering the possibility of something better,” Key said.

Key noting that a country is sustained by countless acts of responsibility that never become headlines, urged Nigerians to keep working for a better Nigeria even without recognition.

“Independence invites us to remember, but it also asks us to examine what we are passing on.

“We inherit a country; we also inherit a responsibility towards those who will live in it after us. The question is not simply whether we cherish Nigeria.

“It is whether our conduct helps make Nigeria a place in which another person can live with greater safety, opportunity, and confidence.

“That question belongs in our homes, our workplaces, our communities, and our public institutions. It concerns how we use authority, how we treat

“People who cannot offer us anything in return, and whether we keep our word when nobody is watching.

“The meaning of nationhood is strengthened through those choices. ,” she said.

According to her, nationhood should be measured by the everyday sacrifices of ordinary citizens such as parents, teachers, healthcare personnel, and small business owners rather than geopolitical metrics or political institutions.

“To everyone serving honestly, caring faithfully, learning patiently, or building something useful, I offer my appreciation. Your contribution does not become insignificant because it receives no public applause,” she said.

Key while acknowledging the economic hardship and grief being experienced in many households across the country, said that genuine patriotism creates room for truth and constructive criticism.

“To the family for whom today brings worry rather than celebration, to the person grieving a loss, to anyone struggling to find work: you do not have to hide your pain to prove your love for Nigeria.

“We can honour our country while asking difficult questions about its condition. Hope becomes credible when it takes people’s lives seriously,” she stated.

The YPP candidate emphasised the need to transition the country’s governance model “from potential to performance.”

She highlighted “LabourDirect,” the core policy agenda presented by the YPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Peter Ada Agada as a practical framework designed to deliver functional healthcare, quality education, and reliable economic opportunities for everyday citizens.

“National development acquires meaning when ordinary effort has a reasonable chance of producing a better life,” Key added.

She further warned against ethnic, religious, and political bigotry, advocating instead for peaceful political discourse and intergenerational collaboration between the country’s youth and elderly.

“A fellow Nigerian does not become less deserving of safety because of a different faith, less entitled to fairness because of a different language, or less worthy of respect because of a different political opinion.

“We can disagree without treating one another as enemies,” she said.

She also commended the Nigerian diaspora community for its continued engagement and contributions to national development, assuring them that distance does not diminish their citizenship or sense of belonging.

“The most useful exchanges begin when people listen to one another without assuming that location alone confers superior understanding,” Key added.

Key urged citizens and leaders to back their prayers with compassionate action, tolerance, and honesty in public service.

“At 66, let our celebration renew our sense of responsibility without diminishing our joy. Let the hope we proclaim today become something another Nigerian can encounter tomorrow,” Key added.