The need for Nigerians to take personal responsibility and contribute to national development took centre stage at the 2026 Diamond Award for Excellence, where leadership expert and keynote speaker, Mr Fela Durotoye, declared that Nigeria needs about 230 million leaders to fix the country.

Durotoye, who spoke on the theme, ‘Collective Efforts Towards National Development,’ told Nigerians to stop waiting for government alone to solve the country’s problems, stressing that every citizen has a role to play in building the Nigeria they desire.

Speaking at the sixth Diamond Award for Excellence, an initiative of the Double Diamond Global Empowerment Initiative, which held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Airport Hotel, Lagos, he said leadership should not be restricted to people occupying positions of authority.

Durotoye explained that an individual does not have to hold a political or public office before becoming a leader, noting that leadership could begin with small acts of positive change within one’s community.

“It will take 230 million leaders to fix Nigeria, meaning every Nigerian must be a leader to fix Nigeria,” he said.

He challenged Nigerians to become solution providers rather than spectators, saying that the country would only change when citizens accept responsibility for contributing to its development.

The leadership expert also criticised the popular idea that young people are ‘leaders of tomorrow’, describing the concept as deceptive because it could encourage people to postpone responsibility.

“The idea of ‘we are leaders of tomorrow’ is diabolical. Tomorrow is a mirage. The closer you get, the further it goes,” he noted.

Durotoye also drew a distinction between leaders and rulers, saying that the presence of genuine leadership should result in positive changes in a society.

“Whenever a leader shows up, things get better. But when a ruler shows up, things get bitter,” he remarked.

Durotoye called on Nigerians to get involved in nation building, accept responsibility, believe in their capacity to add value and remain committed until they achieve their desired results.

“The Nigeria you desire is the Nigeria you design,” he said.

He identified different groups of Nigerians as the ‘sinks’,critics, complainers and contributors, observing that while critics and complainers spend time pointing out problems, contributors focus on finding ways to change the situation.

He said every society would always have issues to complain about, but complaining alone would not solve them.

“Complaining never solves a problem. Contributors are hardly vocal; they are always busy making a change,” he said, urging Nigerians to become contributors within their various capacities.

He identified love for the nation, a desire for the best for the country and willingness to make sacrifices for national development as some of the qualities of a nation builder.

To illustrate the power of collective action, he showed a video of a young boy in India who noticed a broken vehicle causing a traffic jam during heavy rainfall. The boy first attempted to push the vehicle out of the way, before other people joined him. Together, they moved the vehicle and restored the flow of traffic.

However, Durotoye also encouraged Nigerians to participate actively in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting for candidates who represent their vision.

The event also featured special prayers for the country by Bishop Bankole Jepherson and Rev. Paul Ndeobi.

Speaking as Chairman of the event, Dr Robert Abdullahi Johnson said Nigeria’s challenges were largely connected to leadership.

He lamented what he described as the oppression and bloodshed in the country, saying Nigerians must work towards building a nation where people are treated fairly regardless of tribe or religion.

Earlier, the Convener of the awards, Dr Prince Obed Ezeonye, said the initiative was created to identify and celebrate people making positive contributions to society, including those whose efforts often go unnoticed.

The 2026 awardees include Durotoye, Johnson, Chief Emeka Chukwu, Madam Eseoghene Aboze Ikechi, Ambassador Oriakhi Isoken Davies, Apostle Stephen Chukwuka Agbapuru, Harris B. Onyemaechi (SAN), Rt. Hon. James Omor Ebeji, Mrs N. R. Ayorinde Mojisola Margaret, DCP Titus Ayodeji Johnson and Evangelist John Kola-Idowu.

The gathering attracted dignitaries and guests from different sectors, including the Patron and Father of the Day, Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC (rtd), CFR.