My fellow Africans,

Before you today, my heart heavy with the weight of passing time and the echoes of history, I am reminded of the great empires of old—of Rome, with its grandeur and power, of Egypt, with its mystique and wisdom, of Mali, with its wealth and magnificence. These empires, built on the backs of countless individuals, rose and fell, leaving behind legacies that endure in the annals of time.

But what truly defines the greatness of a nation? Is it the size of its armies or the opulence of its palaces? No, my friends, it is the spirit of its people, the resilience of its communities, and the opportunities it affords to all who call it home.

Today, as I stand on the precipice of eternity, I implore you to seize the moment, to grasp the opportunities that lie before us, and to build a future that honors our past and enriches our posterity.

The work and creativity opportunities—these are not mere initiatives; they are the building blocks of a brighter tomorrow. They are the pathways to greatness, the bridges to prosperity, the legacies we leave for generations yet unborn.

Think back to the great empires of old. What made them strong? It was not just the might of their armies or the splendor of their monuments. It was the unity of their people, the diversity of their talents, and the opportunities they provided for all to flourish.

We stand at a crossroads, my friends, where the decisions we make today will echo through the corridors of time. Will we be remembered as the generation that squandered its potential, or will we be hailed as the architects of a new renaissance?

Let us draw inspiration from the empires of old, from the wisdom of our ancestors, and from the dreams of our children. Let us build bridges, not walls; let us lift each other up, not tear each other down; let us embrace diversity, not fear it.

For in the end, it is not the wealth we amass or the power we wield that defines us. It is the kindness we show, the compassion we share, and the opportunities we create for those who come after us.

Let me leave you with this thought: the greatest legacy we can leave behind is not in the monuments we build or the treasures we hoard. It is in the lives we touch, the hearts we inspire, and the opportunities we create for others to shine.

So let us rise, my fellow countrymen rise to the challenge of our time, rise to the occasion of history, and rise to the greatness that lies within each and every one of us.

Together, let us forge a future that honors our past, enriches our present, and empowers our future generations to reach for the stars and make their dreams a reality.

For in the end, it is not the length of our days that matters, but the depth of our impact, the breadth of our love, and the heights of our aspirations.

May God bless our Country and the world, now and forevermore.