KIGALI - President Paul Kagame yesterday attended Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence.

The celebrations took place at the Eagles Square in Abuja with colourful military displays. Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 from the then British colonial government.

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 African nation.
He urged Nigerians to value freedom as something incredibly precious. The Nigerian leader assured the nation of a committed and visionary leadership that would place Nigeria in its rightful position in the world.

"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,” Jonathan said.

He noted that Nigerians had attained heights to be proud of in the fields of science and technology, education, the arts, entertainment, scholarship and diplomacy.

Jonathan who took power after the death of President Umar Yar’Adua earlier this year, has expressed his intention to contest in the country’s presidential polls. He was in Rwanda last month to attend the President Kagame’s inauguration.

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