The Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to rethink how they talk about their country, urging citizens to stop condemning Nigeria and instead adopt a mindset geared toward learning, resilience, and nation building.

Tinubu made the comments in Lagos during an interview shortly after he was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Business at the 56th convocation of the University of Lagos. The recognition was awarded in honour of his contributions to enterprise building, transformation in the energy sector, and his broader role in national development. 

In the interview, the business leader emphasised that national progress depends on collective belief and a willingness to learn from setbacks rather than constantly criticise the country. According to him, failure should not be seen as a reason to discard hope but as a tool to identify lessons and drive meaningful change.

“We learn from our failures and we get it right. We stop condemning the country and believing the country cannot go right. The country can go right, and it goes right by us as a people collectively moving in one direction,” Tinubu said. 

His remarks come at a time when public discourse in Nigeria has been marked by intense criticism of the economy, governance challenges, rising living costs, and infrastructure gaps. Many Nigerians have used social media and public platforms to voice frustration over issues ranging from electricity supply to petrol prices and wavering investor confidence.

In his address, Tinubu urged Nigerians to take responsibility for nation building by backing ambitious reforms and working toward practical solutions. He drew parallels between personal success in business and national progress, suggesting that fear of failure often prevents people from trying at all.

“A lot of people are scared of failing,” he said, noting that many simply do not attempt initiatives that could lead to success. He reasoned that adopting a mindset that embraces risk and learning is central not only to business growth but also to community and national advancement. 

Tinubu also used the opportunity to stress the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. He pointed out that stronger cooperation in areas such as education and health could accelerate Nigeria’s development, and he urged alumni of institutions like the University of Lagos to remain engaged in building capacity within their alma maters.

During his address to graduates and other honorees, Tinubu said that universities have a crucial role to play as engines of innovation and problem-solving, equipping young Nigerians with the skills to tackle the country’s development challenges. 

Reaction to Tinubu’s comments has been varied, reflecting Nigeria’s diverse public sentiment. Supporters of his message praise the encouragement to shift from negative discourse toward constructive participation, especially at a time when global economic competition is fierce and opportunities require optimism as much as effort.

Some Nigerians on social media highlighted his emphasis on learning from failure, arguing that personal and national progress often begins with the courage to innovate, take risks, and persevere through setbacks.

However, critics contend that urging optimism alone cannot address structural and policy challenges facing the nation. They argue that criticism is not inherently negative but can be a necessary driver of accountability and reform when backed by solutions. These responses indicate an ongoing debate about the balance between patriotic encouragement and holding leaders and institutions accountable.

Tinubu’s remarks also resonated with a broader theme of self-determination and internal agency. By underscoring the idea that Nigeria’s success is tied to the collective effort of its people, he signalled that national development is not the sole responsibility of government but a shared endeavour requiring buy-in from citizens across all sectors.