Happy Independence Day, Nigeria.

"Today, we have with us representatives

Of those who have made Nigeria:

Representatives of the Regional Governments,

Of former Central Governments,

Of the Missionary Societies,

And of the Banking and Commercial enterprises,

And members, both past and present, of the Public Service.

We welcome you, and we rejoice that you have

Been able to come and share in our celebrations.

We wish that it could have been possible for all of

Those whom you represent to be here today.

Many, I know, will be disappointed to be absent,

But if they are listening to me now, I say to them:

‘Thank you on behalf of my countrymen.

Thank you for your devoted service which

Helped to build up Nigeria into a nation.

Today, we are reaping the harvest which you sowed,

And the quality of the harvest is equaled only by our gratitude to you.

May God bless you all.

This is an occasion when our hearts are filled

With conflicting emotions:

We are, indeed, proud to have achieved our independence,

And proud that our efforts should have contributed to this happy event.

But do not mistake our pride for arrogance.

It is tempered by feelings of sincere gratitude to

All who have shored in the task of developing

Nigeria politically, socially and economically."

-Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (October 1, 1960)

"As Nigeria celebrates her 55th Independence Day,

We are blessed with a mixture of gratitude and

A longing for positive improvements

We are grateful for the unity we have enjoyed yet,

We seek for more than just cohabitation to a true brotherhood,

Symbiotic relationship and love in the hearts of every man, woman,

Child and beast that dwells on our soil.

We are grateful for the great weather,

The laughs, the ability to adapt.

We however, sometimes reflect on the kind of life

That Nigeria holds for our children;

We want the best.

We want much more than average.

We want more than others think we deserve.

We will rise as Africans, and make it happen.

History is in the making, now."

- OluwaMiranda (October 1, 2015)