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India at 80: President Murmu Hails Economic Growth, Women’s Rise and Global Influence
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By Gloria Ikibah
India’s President, Droupadi Murmu, has declared that the country is on course to becoming a developed nation by 2047, citing rapid economic growth, digital transformation, poverty reduction, women’s empowerment and rising global influence as evidence of the country’s remarkable progress.
In a nationwide broadcast on the eve of India’s 80th Independence Day, President Murmu said the country was entering a historic phase, with every citizen playing a vital role in shaping its future.
She said: “On the eve of our Independence Day, I convey my warm greetings to all of you for this national festival. In a few hours from now, our country will witness the auspicious beginning of the 80th year since its independence.
“All Indians, living in the country and abroad, celebrate this festival with great joy. Our Tricolour is the symbol of our freedom. We unfurl it with immense pride.”
Reflecting on India’s journey since gaining independence in 1947, the President said freedom had given citizens the opportunity to pursue their aspirations and contribute to nation-building.
“The true meaning of freedom lies in ensuring that all citizens are able to utilise opportunities to fulfil their aspirations, and work towards the goal of making India the foremost nation in the world.”
She praised workers across different sectors, including farmers, teachers, healthcare professionals, scientists, soldiers, entrepreneurs and sanitation workers, for their contributions to national development.
“I wholeheartedly appreciate each one of them. I specially commend the devotion of our soldiers in the three Armed Forces, Armed Police Forces and all police personnel for their unwavering dedication to duty.
“I also praise the Indian diaspora and the officials serving in our embassies who enhance India’s prestige and honour on the global stage.”
Murmu reiterated the government’s commitment to building a developed India, known as Viksit Bharat, by the country’s centenary in 2047.
“We are moving ahead towards building Viksit Bharat by the centenary year of our Independence in 2047. Guided by the spirit of Antyodaya, it is our resolve to ensure that the fruits of development reach every individual”, she said.
The President highlighted what she described as major achievements recorded over the past decade, including poverty reduction, financial inclusion and expanded access to healthcare.
She disclosed that nearly 59 crore people had been integrated into the banking system through the government’s financial inclusion initiative.
“More than 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty.
“Under ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’, the world’s largest programme of financial inclusion, nearly 59 crore account holders have joined the banking system. Out of these, more than 32 crore account holders are women”, she stated.
Murmu also said food security programmes had ensured access to free food supplies for millions of vulnerable citizens.
“Food security has been ensured for more than 80 crore people by providing them with free rations”, she stated.
On healthcare, she noted that about 60 crore Indians were now covered under a government-backed health insurance scheme.
“Under ‘Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’, free healthcare coverage of up to five lakh rupees per year has been provided to 60 crore people”, she added.
The President described India’s digital revolution as one of the country’s biggest success stories, noting that the country had developed the world’s largest digital infrastructure.
“Digital payments are now common even in small rural shops and among street vendors. More than half of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India.
“Together, the people of India and the Government have presented an example of digital revolution to the global community”, she said.
She also pointed to significant investments in roads, railways, waterways and aviation, saying infrastructure development was creating jobs and encouraging private investment.
“Our country has seen an unprecedented expansion of modern infrastructure in the form of highways, waterways, railways and airways. This is creating opportunities for new enterprises, generating employment and boosting investor confidence”, Murmu noted.
Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions around the world, Murmu said India had maintained its position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
“Warfare and instability prevailing in several parts of the world are affecting every country. Even in such trying circumstances, our economy is moving ahead as the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
“According to economic projections, the growth rate of the Indian economy is expected to be more than twice the average global growth rate”, she said.
On international relations, the President reaffirmed India’s commitment to diplomacy, peace and multilateral cooperation.
She added that India was playing a more prominent role in advancing the interests of developing countries.
“National interest is the foundation of our foreign policy. Peace, cooperation, dialogue and the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam are the pillars of our foreign policy.
“We are playing a leading role among the countries of the Global South. Our country has grown in stature on the global stage”, she added.
Women’s empowerment featured prominently in the President’s address, with Murmu highlighting the increasing participation of women in business, politics, education, sports and agriculture.
She noted that women were now excelling in fields traditionally dominated by men, including aviation and modern agriculture.
According to her, women had dominated India’s medal haul at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.
“It gives me immense pleasure to see our girls performing exceptionally well in the field of education.
“Women’s participation is increasing across diverse sectors, from the Drone Didi who contributes to enhancing agricultural productivity to the Fighter Combat Leader in the Air Force.
“In the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, women have won eight out of India’s total tally of 13 gold medals”, the President said.
Murmu also revealed that a government initiative aimed at creating three crore financially independent women had already achieved its target.
“A target was set to create three crore Lakhpati Didis. This target has been achieved. Now our country is moving towards the goal of creating three crore new Lakhpati Didis.”
The President said young people remained India’s greatest asset, noting that 65 per cent of the country’s population was below the age of 35.
She cited the country’s growing start-up ecosystem and recent achievements in space exploration as examples of the creativity and innovation of Indian youths.
“This young population is our most valuable asset. The youth of our country are talented, committed and skilled.
“A new phase of space exploration has been ushered in through the recent successful rocket launch by a young team with an average age of just 28 years”, she said.
On national security, Murmu praised the country’s armed forces and defended India’s tough stance against terrorism.
She also described the elimination of Naxalism as one of the country’s major achievements.
“That historic operation against terrorism demonstrated the capability of the Indian Armed Forces to act with precision.
“It sent a clear and firm message to terrorists and those who support them, that no matter where they hide, they will have to face the consequences of their actions.
“For decades, Naxalism posed a serious challenge to the nation. Making India Naxal-free is a major achievement”, she noted.
The President called on citizens to remain committed to environmental protection, warning that future generations had an equal right to the planet’s natural resources.
“Future generations have as much right over natural resources as we do. We must ensure that none of our actions result in the slightest encroachment upon the exercise of this right by future generations”, she added.
As India marks 80 years of independence, Murmu urged citizens to remain united and continue working towards building a stronger and more prosperous nation.
“When I talk about my country, India, let me say that it is a nation whose GDP is projected to grow between 6.5 and 6.8 per cent this year.
“India has already transformed from the world’s back office into a premier laboratory for digital public infrastructure, seamlessly connecting over a billion citizens.
“I have great faith in India’s bright and prosperous future”, the President stated.
The Nigerian Army is stepping up the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), simulation technology and data analytics to strengthen battlefield decision-making and improve its readiness to confront terrorists and other security threats.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open a Simulation Training Seminar at the Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria (LFSCN), Giri, Abuja.
Shaibu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Nigerian Military Training Support Assistance Team, Maj.-Gen. Umar Yusuf, said simulation technology would allow commanders to test operational plans, anticipate adversary moves and identify capability gaps before they become costly realities on the battlefield.
He described simulation as more than a training tool, saying it had become a critical command instrument for threat analysis, testing operational plans, strengthening predictive capabilities and exploiting identified vulnerabilities of adversaries.
«“Simulation is far more than a training aid but rather a critical command instrument for supporting data analysis, strengthening predictive capabilities and enabling commanders to match our strengths against identified adversary vulnerabilities,” he said.»
The COAS charged the centre to become a strategic hub for wargaming current and future operations, testing military doctrine and refining contingency plans.
He also directed the centre to draw continuously from lessons learned in operational theatres to identify weaknesses in existing plans and address capability gaps before they affect mission execution.
According to him, simulation-based training will not only boost combat readiness but also cut the financial and logistical burden associated with live exercises, including ammunition consumption and equipment wear.
Shaibu said the seminar, themed “Harnessing Simulation Technologies to Strengthen Nigerian Army’s Roles across Joint, Multi-Agency and Combined Operational Environments,” was particularly relevant to his command philosophy.
He said the initiative aligned with the Operational Readiness pillar of his vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
The Army chief said the seminar’s mix of technical presentations, operational case studies and practical simulation exercises would equip participants with better tools for evaluating operational plans and predicting adversary behaviour.
He urged participants to translate the lessons into improved wargaming, operational planning, command decisions and battlefield outcomes.
Earlier, the Director-General of LFSCN, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Wabili, said emerging technologies were increasingly being exploited by both security forces and terrorist groups.
Wabili noted that robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence and simulation software were becoming more accessible because of their dual-use applications.
He said the development had made it imperative for the Army to continuously adapt its strategies and integrate emerging technologies to maintain an operational edge over its adversaries.
«“The Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria is therefore in a unique position to employ advanced simulation software for continuous validation of operation plans and contingency plans,” he said.»
Wabili said the seminar would draw on the operational experience and expertise of resource persons to examine the application of simulation technology from different perspectives.
The seminar, which ends on Thursday, is expected to produce practical methodologies and recommendations for strengthening simulation-based training and operational planning in the Nigerian Army.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shaibu also inaugurated the Shooting Simulation Range at the centre.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19, 2026, for five by-elections across four states — Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Dayo Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oketola said the elections would cover one federal and four state constituencies.
The federal constituency election will hold in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State.
The four state constituency elections will take place in Disina and Sakwa constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu Constituency in Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu Constituency in Kano State.
The commission is expected to release further details on the electoral arrangements ahead of the polls.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has inaugurated the Forum of State Directors-General of Public Procurement, with stakeholders describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and efficiency in public spending across Nigeria.
The inauguration was held on Tuesday at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja and brought together Directors-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), or their equivalents, from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Development partners and other stakeholders in the procurement sector also attended the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the NGF, Abdulallateef Shittu, said the inauguration came at a critical time when the country was seeking to recalibrate its economic architecture.
Shittu stressed the enormous responsibility before state procurement authorities, noting that public procurement plays a critical role in budget implementation and the delivery of government projects at all levels.
He urged members of the forum to uphold professionalism, transparency and efficiency in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Director-General of the federal BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was aware of the inauguration of the Committee of Practice of Public Procurement and had given his support to the initiative.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to improving living standards and reducing poverty.
Adedokun described the inauguration as a significant development in Nigeria’s procurement history, saying an effective and transparent procurement system could attract foreign direct investment, boost GDP and stimulate the growth of domestic industries.
He urged members of the forum to strictly adhere to due process, fairness and transparency in the implementation of public projects.
ADSC, DDI Commend BPP Leadership
In a goodwill message, Dr Osahanze Idahosa, who represented the President/CEO of the Africa Development Studies Centre (ADSC) and Douglas Development Institute (DDI), commended Adedokun for creating an enabling environment for collaboration and capacity development in the procurement sector.
Idahosa said Adedokun’s openness to partnerships had enabled ADSC and DDI to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s procurement systems at the federal level.
He described the inauguration as significant not only to the forum but also to the broader public procurement reform agenda, particularly at the subnational level.
“Subnational procurement systems are where policy meets people, where transparency and value for money either take root or falter,” Idahosa said.
He urged the new leadership of the forum to deepen accountability, efficiency, professionalism and transparency in public procurement across the states.
According to him, ADSC and DDI have supported procurement transformation through capacity-building programmes, study exchanges and institutional development initiatives aimed at modernising public spending.
Idahosa also recalled a study exchange to South Africa involving one of the forum’s members, saying the experience underscored the need to extend procurement reforms achieved at the federal level to the states.
He said public procurement was too important to governance to be left to isolated efforts, stressing the need for collective commitment across federal and subnational institutions.
He further noted that public procurement accounts for an estimated 15 to 30 per cent of GDP and is linked to between 50 and 60 per cent of leakages in public financial management.
ADSC and DDI congratulated the new leadership and pledged continued support through training, research, knowledge-sharing platforms and international study exchanges.
New Chairman Promises Collective Leadership
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman of the forum, Ehimoni Ibiyomi, described his appointment as the beginning great of things.
“Today is not simply another meeting or gathering of procurement regulators. It represents the beginning of a new institutional chapter in our collective efforts to strengthen public procurement administration, regulation and professional practice at the sub-national level in Nigeria.I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for the confidence reposed in me and for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of this Forum.I accept this responsibility with full recognition that the office is not about an individual. It is about collective leadership, institutional cooperation and a shared commitment to improving the quality of public procurement across our States.
APPRECIATION TO THE NIGERIAN GOVERNORS’ FORUMLet me begin by expressing our profound appreciation to the leadership and Management of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Secretariat for providing the platform for the formal inauguration and recognition of this Forum.
“This gesture is significant.For the Forum to function effectively, there must be a structured relationship between the institutions responsible for procurement regulation and the political leadership of the States.
“The Nigerian Governors’ Forum provides an important national platform through which the collective interests of State Governments can be discussed and advanced.
The recognition of our Forum within this broader institutional environment therefore creates an opportunity for procurement to receive the level of strategic attention it deserves in the governance and development agenda of our States.We are particularly grateful for the confidence demonstrated through this engagement, and we assure the Nigerian Governors’ Forum that we will justify this confidence through professionalism, responsibility, transparency and measurable results.
APPRECIATION TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
“I also wish to acknowledge the presence and support of the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement.
The Federal BPP has a critical role in Nigeria’s public procurement architecture, and the relationship between the Federal BPP and State Procurement Regulatory Authorities must be one of partnership, knowledge exchange, coordination and mutual institutional respect.Our Forum does not seek to duplicate or compete with the Federal BPP.Rather, we seek to complement the national procurement reform agenda by strengthening the sub-national procurement institutions and ensuring that the experiences, innovations and challenges of the States are effectively brought into national conversations on procurement reform.We look forward to a closer and more structured relationship with the Federal BPP in the areas of technical support, capacity building, professional development, regulatory knowledge sharing, research, standardization and procurement reform.APPRECIATION TO THE WORLD BANK AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
“Our appreciation also goes to the World Bank, particularly the team working under SPESSE, for its continued commitment to strengthening public procurement systems and professional capacity in Nigeria.
“The establishment and formal recognition of this Forum comes at a time when procurement is increasingly being recognized not merely as an administrative function, but as a critical instrument for achieving fiscal responsibility, value for money, infrastructure development, service delivery and sustainable economic development.We therefore see development partners not merely as sources of funding, but as strategic partners in institutional development, knowledge transfer, innovation, research, capacity building and sustainable reforms.
“As a Forum, we are prepared to develop practical programmes that can attract technical assistance and partnership from the World Bank and other development partners.We would particularly welcome collaboration in areas such as:professionalization of State procurement institutions;continuous capacity development for procurement officers;sustainable and socially responsible procurement;digital procurement and procurement data management;procurement performance measurement;development of procurement policies and guidelines;institutional strengthening;research and knowledge development; andpeer learning and exchange programmes.
APPRECIATION TO OTHER INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
“I equally acknowledge the presence and interest of the African Development Study Center, the Association of Procurement Professionals of Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and other invited institutions and stakeholders.Their presence demonstrates a fundamental reality: public procurement cannot be successfully reformed in isolation.Procurement intersects with corporate governance, business registration and compliance, professional standards, research, finance, technology, infrastructure development and broader public-sector reform.
“For this reason, our Forum intends to pursue strategic partnerships with relevant institutions and organizations whose mandates can contribute to improving the quality and effectiveness of public procurement across the States.
THE VISION OF THE FORUM Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,As we commence this new chapter, we must be clear about what we want this Forum to become.Our vision is to build a strong, professional, collaborative and nationally recognized platform for the Heads of State Public Procurement Regulatory Authorities, capable of contributing meaningfully to procurement reform and good governance in Nigeria.
“We want a Forum that does not merely meet, but delivers”, he added.
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