President Bola Tinubu has called for patriotic leadership in Nigeria, saying the country needs men and women whose commitment to national development goes beyond personal interests and self-aggrandisement.
The President made the call at the St. Monica Cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, during a thanksgiving service held to mark the 70th birthday of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the current SGF, George Akume, urged public officials and citizens to make devotion to the public good a core value.
The President said Nigeria needs leaders who place public service and national interest above personal ambition.
“Nigeria needs men and women who value what transcends personal interest, but rather a devotion to public service,” Tinubu said.
He described the birthday celebration as an opportunity to give thanks for Mustapha’s life and years of service.
“Today is first and foremost a day for thanksgiving. We gathered not only to celebrate a passage of seven decades, but to celebrate the faithfulness of God, who has preserved and sustained Boss Mustapha through the various seasons of life,” he added.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described Mustapha as a benchmark for integrity in public service.
Mutfwang also called for greater unity among political leaders in the Middle Belt region.
The governor commended the former SGF for choosing to mark his 70th birthday by investing in public education rather than personal luxury.
He said the gesture demonstrated a commitment to creating lasting benefits for future generations.
Speaking at the official handover of a library complex he donated to Lutheran University Nigeria in Demsa, Adamawa State, Mustapha encouraged Nigerian youths not to allow their backgrounds to limit their ambitions.
The former SGF said his own life demonstrated that people from humble beginnings can attain significant positions through determination and hard work.
“I want my life to be a template for the younger generation. If the son of a classroom teacher can make it, then you can make it. Do not allow your background to define your life—use it as a stepping stone,” Mustapha said.
He explained that his decision to build the library was motivated by his desire to improve the lives of future generations.
“My decision to undertake this project is borne out of the need to better the lives of the generation coming after us,” he said.
The library complex was named the Wesley Mustapha Library Complex by the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Most Revd. Musa Panti Filibus.
The facility was named in honour of Mustapha’s late father, who was a teacher.
Mustapha said his father rose from being a classroom teacher to becoming a headmaster at the Government Science School established by the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria.
The former SGF said his father’s career and dedication to education influenced his decision to invest in the university library.
Archbishop Filibus expressed appreciation to Mustapha for the donation, describing it as a lasting contribution to tertiary education in the region.
He said the facility would provide an enduring resource for students and scholars while supporting the development of education in Adamawa State.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri also praised the project, describing the library complex as a monument to knowledge.
Fintiri said the facility would serve generations of scholars in Adamawa State and beyond.
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The celebrations surrounding Mustapha’s 70th birthday combined thanksgiving with a reflection on his years in public service and his contribution to education.
The donation of the library has also provided a lasting legacy linked to his family’s background in teaching.
The event brought together political leaders, religious figures and other dignitaries, with speakers highlighting the importance of integrity, service and investment in future generations.
Tinubu’s message at the thanksgiving service reinforced the need for Nigerian leaders to prioritise the public interest, while Mustapha’s education initiative provided an example of how public figures can channel personal milestones into projects designed to benefit society.
