‎BY AHMED AKANBI

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‎President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that inclusion, trust and opportunity are the foundations of democracy that gives every citizen a voice and every generation a reason to hope.

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‎Akpabio, who is also the chairman of Nigeria’s National Assembly, stated this on Tuesday in his address with the theme: ‘Inclusion, trust and opportunity’ at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania.

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‎He said for Nigeria, democracy means more than elections, and development more than impressive statistics.

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‎”Their true measure is the child who can attend school, the young person who can find work, and the family that can face tomorrow with confidence. If progress is not seen in our people, our work is not finished,” he said.

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‎Akpabio described trust as the invisible currency of democracy, noting it cannot be commanded or legislated but earned through fairness, transparency and accountability.

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‎He said the National Assembly embraces this responsibility through legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight, adding that parliament is a bridge for ordinary people’s hopes.

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‎The Senate President said Nigeria’s diversity makes inclusion a national duty and democratic necessity, stressing that no citizen should be a stranger in his own country.

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‎He told the global parliamentary forum that under President Bola Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly, Nigeria is pursuing reforms to widen participation and opportunity.

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‎Akpabio cited expanded regional development institutions to bring development closer to communities and tax reforms to ease burden on low-income earners and small businesses.

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‎The Senate President also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, providing interest-free loans for higher education, saying poverty must never have final word on a young person’s potential.

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‎He urged the Assembly to build parliaments that listen, governments that serve and institutions that keep faith with their people, turning inclusion into participation and opportunity into prosperity.