Nigeria celebrates 50th anniversary of independence
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Nigeria celebrated on Friday the 50th anniversary of independence.
A ceremony attended by huge crowd was held at the Eagles Square in Abuja where military parades were held.
It was a day of celebration featuring several dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corp, National Assembly members, former leaders, and more.
Some 15 African leaders witnessed the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence, while some countries outside Africa sent good will messages through their diplomatic missions.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, in a nationwide broadcast to mark the anniversary, called Oct. 1, 1960 a great day for the citizens of the west Africa nation.
He urged Nigerians to value freedom as something incredibly precious.
The Nigerian leader assured the nation of committed and visionary leadership that would place Nigeria in its rightful position in the comity of nations.
"I promise to give all my best to our great country. I am committed to ensuring public safety and security," he said.
"For our present and our future, I am committed to improving the quality of education and to give Nigeria the edge in human capital development," he added.
"We will rebuild our economy by continuing the implementation of the reforms in the banking and other sectors to ensure economic progress," President Jonathan said.
Contrary to opinions of some Nigerians that the nation's dreams and expectations in its last 50 years had not been fulfilled, the president said there was much to celebrate.
He said even with the setbacks caused by military rule and the civil war, Nigeria could proudly celebrate its freedom, strength, unity and resilience.
The president noted that Nigerians had attained heights to be proud of in the fields of science and technology, education, arts, entertainment, scholarship and diplomacy.
Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 from the then British colonial government.
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