Both figures made the remarks at the public presentation of two books authored by Dr Ayokunnu Olowoporoku, titled See it, Say it, Do it: A Three-Step Guide to Achieving Success and Lifewire Philosophies for Daily Living. The event was held at the Muson Centre in Lagos on Thursday and drew academics, clergy, and professionals.
At the centre of their message was a shared belief that national progress depends less on physical infrastructure and more on the quality of minds being nurtured. They urged young Nigerians to prioritise personal development, discipline, and continuous learning as tools for long-term relevance.
Prof Asikhia, speaking at the event, cautioned youths against what he described as a growing “get-rich-quick mentality,” urging a return to values such as character building, competence, and creativity. He said the books presented practical guidance for ethical living and purposeful achievement.
“The presentation of the books today is timely as it presents principles that govern moral conduct and meaningful life,” he said. He further noted that “success is not accidental or reserve for a lucky few but for people who are committed with intentional habits and leadership insights.”
Also addressing the gathering, Pastor Bakare called on young Nigerians to embrace self-leadership and lifelong learning, saying these qualities are essential for both personal growth and national transformation.
He argued that Nigeria’s development challenge is closely tied to its inability to properly harness its human capital. “Human capital remain inadequately harness and that is why we have leadership deficit,” he said, adding that execution, not just ideas, is critical to national progress.
“The book will position us to think through on how to make Nigeria great,” Bakare said. “Our product excels significantly across the continents. Despite all these, our nation has refused to develop her best mind.”
He commended the author for contributing to intellectual discourse and encouraging a culture of action-driven learning.
In his remarks, Dr Olowoporoku explained that both books were inspired by a desire to bridge the gap between intention and execution in human behaviour. He described Lifewire Philosophies for Daily Living as a reflective work aimed at promoting self-awareness and wisdom-driven living.
On See it, Say it, Do it, he said the book distils achievement into a simple but deliberate framework built on vision, articulation, and action. “This book simplifies achievement into a powerful three-step philosophy: vision, declaration, and action,” he said, adding that transformation begins when individuals move from aspiration to execution.
The event underscored a recurring theme among speakers: that Nigeria’s long-term progress will depend heavily on how effectively it develops, empowers, and utilises its human capital.