Hon. Dave Agboola, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s style of politics has shaped Nigeria for good. He made this statement while delivering a keynote address at the Global Dialogue Intervarsity Debate held at Lagos State University’s Buba Marwa Hall on Thursday, April 30.
The event was organised by Comrade Moyosoluwa Abisuga, the 36th Vice President of the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU).
Speaking on the theme, “How Politics Shapes and Influences the Narrative of Global Discourse,” Agboola emphasized that politics is not merely about governance but about shaping the stories that nations tell, the priorities societies adopt, and the futures they imagine.
The keynote drew on both global and Nigerian examples to illustrate how political framing influences discourse. He referenced the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia–Ukraine war, and the Israel–Gaza conflict, noting how leaders’ narratives determined whether these crises were understood as health emergencies, sovereignty struggles, or humanitarian challenges.
Turning to Nigeria, he highlighted how politics defines national conversations around education, security, and student activism. He cited the EndSARS protests, the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, and recurring ASUU strikes as examples of how political narratives shape whether events are perceived as progress, unrest, or neglect.
Agboola particularly extolled President Tinubu’s political style in the area of education, noting that under his leadership, strike actions have become taboo in Nigeria’s universities. He highlighted the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), an initiative that caters to the needs of indigent students, and other reforms now being enjoyed by Nigerians. According to him, these initiatives demonstrate how politics, when applied with vision, can positively transform the lives of ordinary citizens.
Further, Agboola warned of the dangers of distorted narratives, including polarization, disinformation, and the silencing of marginalized voices. Yet, he placed responsibility and hope in the hands of students: “You must interrogate political narratives. Ask: Who benefits? Who is silenced? What truths are hidden? Tomorrow’s leaders must wield politics not as a weapon of division but as a tool of empowerment,” he declared.
The keynote resonated strongly with the audience, reminding them that Nigeria’s voice is part of the global dialogue and that their courage and integrity will determine whether the nation’s story is one of struggle or hope.
