Nigeria rising stronger from insecurity and poverty, says Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says Nigeria is becoming stronger and more resilient despite facing challenges ranging from insecurity to economic hardship and social unrest.

Speaking on Wednesday at the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva, Switzerland, Akpabio said the country has continued to confront its troubles with courage and legislative reforms.

“I come from a nation that has endured fire and risen from ashes. A nation that keeps sailing through storms and rough weather,” he said.

While acknowledging the ongoing battle against terrorism, armed conflicts, and poverty, he said Nigeria refuses to be defined by these problems.

“We are not defined by what we face, but by how we rise. In the furnace of turmoil, we are becoming stronger, wiser, and more determined to build a greater nation,” the senate president said.

He noted that the Nigerian legislature is driving national recovery through targeted reforms aimed at security, education, and innovation.

Akpabio cited recent legislative interventions including the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act, the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, and the Out-of-School Children Education Act as part of efforts to build a more secure and inclusive society.

He also mentioned Nigeria’s 10-year national digital strategy and the Start-Up Act as tools to support youth innovation, job creation, and bridge inequality.

On inclusion, Akpabio noted that the national assembly is pushing to institutionalise gender quotas and expand access to political participation for women, young people, and persons with disabilities.

Calling for renewed international cooperation, Akpabio urged world leaders to move beyond grand declarations and act with urgency.

“Multilateralism must not become rhetoric. It must rise as a movement of resolve. When one corner of the global fabric is torn by conflict or injustice, the entire tapestry is weakened,” he added.

The event is jointly organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations.