Building a New Nigeria Through Collaboration, Unity and Shared Responsibility

The Executive Director of the Great Nigerian Assembly (GNA), GN (Dr.) Kayode Elusoji, has called for stronger collaboration among Nigerians at home and abroad, emphasizing the importance of unity, shared responsibility and grassroots development in building a better Nigeria.

Elusoji made the call while joining Nigerian professionals, community leaders, diaspora organizations and friends of Nigeria at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Chicagoland Chapter on October 3, 2026.

The celebration, held under the theme “Connecting for Growth, Building for the Future: One Nigeria, One Community, One Future,” provided a platform for strengthening relationships, celebrating Nigeria’s cultural heritage and exploring opportunities for collective national development.

GN (Dr.) Kayode Elusoji, Dr. Ewa and NIDO Chicagoland President, Georgina Franklin, at the celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Chicago.

NIDO Chicagoland: Strengthening the Nigerian Diaspora Community

NIDO Chicagoland continues to provide a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora to connect, promote professional networking, encourage community participation and strengthen relationships between Nigerians abroad and their homeland.

The organization brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders and community stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore opportunities to contribute to Nigeria’s development.

The anniversary celebration, under the leadership of NIDO Chicagoland President Georgina Franklin, highlighted the importance of unity, collaboration and purposeful engagement among Nigerians in the diaspora.

The event also featured the inauguration of the NIDO Chicagoland Board of Trustees, marking a milestone in the organization’s institutional development and commitment to sustainable leadership.

Members of the newly constituted NIDO Chicagoland Board of Trustees.

The presence of distinguished guests, including representatives of the Nigerian Embassy and community organizations, further underscored the importance of strengthening relationships between diaspora communities and institutions serving Nigerians at home and abroad.

GNA Executive Director Advocates Practical Collaboration

For Elusoji, participation in the celebration went beyond commemorating Nigeria’s independence. It provided an opportunity to emphasize the need for Nigerian organizations to work together and translate shared aspirations into practical development outcomes.

He noted that Nigeria possesses significant human and professional resources within its diaspora communities but requires deliberate structures to channel these resources towards measurable benefits for citizens.

“The Nigeria of our dreams cannot be built by government alone, nor can it be achieved through isolated efforts. We must create sustainable platforms through which Nigerians at home and abroad can work together, mobilize resources, share expertise, and take collective responsibility for the development of our communities,” he said.

Elusoji emphasized that organizations such as NIDO and GNA could play complementary roles in mobilizing Nigerians, promoting national unity and encouraging constructive participation in grassroots development.

He stressed that meaningful collaboration requires more than goodwill, noting that sustainable platforms are essential for connecting professional expertise, available resources and community needs.

GNA Prepares for October 24 Inauguration in Ile-Ife

The celebration comes as GNA prepares for the inauguration of its Coverage Area Administrator (CAA) Governance Model Committee Members for Ife Central and Ife East Local Government Areas of Osun State.

Scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, the inauguration represents an important step in implementing the GNA CAA Governance Model, a citizen-driven initiative designed to promote transparency, accountability, community participation and sustainable grassroots development.

The ceremony is expected to bring together members of the Local Government Advisory Councils, CAA Governance Committees, Special Development Committees, Ward Manager Committees and other stakeholders committed to advancing community development.

The initiative also incorporates trained Certified Citizen Reporters (CCRs), who will document community needs, monitor infrastructure conditions and provide verified information to support public engagement and accountability.

Through its technology-enabled governance platform, GNA seeks to establish a coordinated framework connecting citizens, professionals, diaspora organizations, community leaders and political office holders in efforts to improve local development outcomes.

The inauguration will be held entirely online, commencing at 10:00 a.m. Chicago time and 4:00 p.m. Nigeria and London time, with live coverage through GNA’s digital media platforms.

Building Bridges Between NIDO, GNA and Nigerians Worldwide

Elusoji noted that the GNA CAA Governance Model presents opportunities for diaspora organizations, including NIDO chapters worldwide, to participate more directly in community development across Nigeria.

Rather than limiting diaspora contributions to occasional donations or individual interventions, the model seeks to provide a structured framework through which professionals and organizations can identify community needs, support development initiatives, contribute technical expertise and monitor the outcomes of their interventions.

Such collaboration could support initiatives in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, youth empowerment, security and other sectors that directly affect the daily lives of Nigerians.

“Our greatest strength as Nigerians lies not merely in our individual achievements but in our willingness to bring those achievements together for the collective good. Imagine the impact when Nigerian professionals across the world deliberately connect their expertise and resources to the communities where their journeys began,” he said.

The approach reflects GNA’s broader objective of connecting people, institutions and resources to community priorities, creating opportunities for diaspora professionals to contribute knowledge and experience to development efforts in their home communities.

A Shared Vision for a Better Nigeria

The Great Nigerian Assembly commends the leadership and members of NIDO Chicagoland for their efforts to unite Nigerians, celebrate their achievements, preserve their cultural identity and encourage meaningful contributions to national development.

GNA maintains that stronger institutional collaboration among diaspora organizations, professional bodies, community associations and grassroots development initiatives can help translate goodwill into measurable progress.

As Nigeria celebrates 66 years of independence, the message remains clear: national development is a shared responsibility, and every Nigerian has a role to play.

The forthcoming inauguration of the GNA CAA Governance Model Committees for Ife Central and Ife East represents a practical step towards translating this vision into action. GNA aims to extend the model across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, creating a broader framework for citizen participation, community accountability and locally driven development.

Through stronger partnerships between Nigerians at home and abroad, the Assembly seeks to encourage a development approach that connects expertise with local needs and collective aspirations with practical action.

Together, Nigerians can move beyond conversations about the country they desire and begin building the Nigeria they deserve.