As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Workers’ Day, the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA, Prince Cletus Iloabanafor, has called on the nation’s workforce to embrace disciplined productivity as a catalyst for economic transformation.
In a statement released on May 1, 2026, Iloabanafor commended the resilience, creativity, and enduring commitment of Nigerian workers across diverse sectors. He noted that the collective efforts of the labour force remain the most critical driver of sustainable development and national prosperity.
Drawing from CEOAFRICA’s monthly theme, *“One focused month is more powerful than a distracted year,”* he urged workers to adopt a results-oriented mindset. According to him, Nigeria’s quest for global competitiveness and domestic economic stability requires not just activity, but intentional focus and strategic execution. He emphasized that concentrated effort within a short period can deliver more impactful results than prolonged but unfocused engagement.
Iloabanafor stressed that productivity should be viewed not merely as an organizational objective but as a national responsibility. He highlighted the need for alignment between individual labour efforts and broader economic goals, particularly at a time when Nigeria is pushing for industrial revitalization. He pointed to the growing role of startups and digital innovation in job creation, encouraging Nigerians—especially youth and women—to seize emerging opportunities for enterprise development and economic participation.
He further underscored the importance of accelerating regional and economic integration to unlock sustainable growth, while urging stakeholders to translate the opportunities embedded in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu into measurable outcomes. These, he said, should include job creation, enterprise expansion, and strengthened value chains.
Addressing young Nigerians, Iloabanafor made a passionate appeal for capacity building and patriotism. He encouraged them to shift focus from seeking opportunities abroad to creating value within the country.
“I call on the youth to embrace hard work and begin to see themselves as job creators rather than job seekers. The potential for greatness lies within our borders, if only we commit to building it,” he stated.
He described Nigeria’s human capital as one of its greatest assets, noting that the nation must strategically harness its pool of skilled, educated, and innovative individuals. According to him, combining Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit with practical skills development holds the key to unlocking long-term economic progress.
In his closing remarks, Iloabanafor reaffirmed CEOAFRICA’s commitment to promoting narratives that highlight the strength of Nigeria’s workforce and advocating policies that empower workers.
“Today, we celebrate the resilience, expertise, and impact of workers across every sector. They are the backbone of our economy and the driving force of our future,” he said.
He concluded by wishing Nigerians a meaningful Workers’ Day celebration, expressing optimism that the month of May would reflect the power of focus, purpose, and collective effort in building a stronger nation.
