The resilience of the Nigerian people, their kindness, and their deep connection to their heritage stand out as some of the many things that make this country so special. It resonates so much with our people in Kosovo and the joint values we share. Kosovo remains unrecognized as a state by many countries in the world.

Nigerians need to have the spirit of nationhood that our fathers and forefathers had. Whether you are Ibo, Hausa, Yoruba, Tiv, Ijaw, Igala or Berom we have to be tolerant of one another.

Although we're American, we're also Nigerian. We're actually Nigerian first. That's the one culture that we know, that we were raised to respect and understand. To show people that it's okay to be both and it's okay to represent where you're from is a powerful message that, hopefully, we've been able to translate.

Consciously deciding not to, knowing and understanding what comes with being Nigerian in our world today, and choosing to stay focused on individual success, will one day lead to our collective success as a nation.

What I try to end up expressing is that being Nigerian is a state of mind. It doesn’t matter whether I had garri, milk and sugar in boarding school. It’s not about that. It’s about unity within the different ethnic groups and being able to help, love and understand each other.

I believe very deeply that Nigeria should and will be great. I believe I deserve better.

When we are navigating, we navigate as Nigerians. We are not ashamed of our Nigerianness. Our Nigerianess holds in our stories.

Myself, the government and people of Nigeria are inspired by the United States of America's achievement and the principles which guide it.

I have always been fascinated by Nigeria because it is our neighbour. And you have so much to offer. I even wrote a book when I was in Nigeria. I tried to discover as much as I could because you are good with all the arts in Nigeria, traditional, modern and contemporary.

I don’t know whether I am [a world historical figure] or not. But certainly, I do know that I am probably the most Nigerian of Nigerians alive today. I also know that the failure of Nigeria has created a reflex and that reflex can be called Biafra. I know that in the context of Biafra that existed, I am very important. Having said that, I feel that I have a responsibility to always point out the deficiencies of Nigeria and to keep alive the alternative. That’s why I say that there will always be, if not the Biafra of territory, Biafra of the heart.

We as a people must start showing the positive side of Nigeria and all the beautiful places that need exposure.

I believe in Nigeria’s potential to truly be a great nation; the giant of Africa and indeed, a giant in the world.

I have a dream not only for the North but for the entire nation. I have a dream that Nigeria will be truly united one day. I have a dream that Nigeria will have a buoyant, a strong economy. I have a dream that Nigeria will have the political cloud that will enable her to lead rest of the Africa and the blacks all over the world. I have a dream that Nigerians will come to regard one another as their brothers keepers. I have a dream that Nigeria will take her proper place in the committee of nations and will be one of the leading nations of the world. I have that dream, God's willing.. And all these ugliest things that are happening today will come to an end. Only God has no beginning nor end. Everything that you see good or bad has a beginning and it will have an end. By the grace of God we will see the end of all the crisis in Nigeria. By the grace of God we will come to know peace and stability in Nigeria. By the grace of God we will be our brothers keepers. Unfortunately today it is not so, and that is why I'm worried and that is why we are working for it.. Today Nigeria is not what it was. Nigeria was a decent country, morally sound, yes. But today, even the institutions of public is breaking down today. Respect for elders and constituted authority could used to be the cardinal principle in our society is now in it's lowest aim. Honesty where it does not pay has become meaningless. In short, there is meaninglessness in philosophy, insecurity in politics, chaos in politics, immoralities in society, corruption in economy, frustration in art, lack of creativity in literature.

As Father Hernady said, I have visited his neighborhood, and, as some of you may remember, I got in trouble during the campaign talking about ethnic purity or ethnic heritage. I think it's very important for us Americans who are black or Spanish-speaking or Hungarian or Polish or Irish to have a continuing pride in our background, in our history, in our characteristics as human beings, and also in the preservation of the quality of our neighborhoods. I'm proud of where I live, the little town of Plains, Georgia. And I know that all of you, to the extent that one is proud of a family or community or a home, the quality of that family or community or home will be maintained. When pride leaves, then the neighborhood deteriorates. And I think one of the greatest contributions to our country, in my lifetime at least, has been the pride of black people in their own heritage and a refusal to accept the proposition that was put forward by many that there was an inferiority in being a minority. There's just as much pride and strength in a minority group of any kind as there can be in a majority group.