LAGOS, Nigeria — Veteran actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) has said Nigeria’s age should not be used as an excuse for poor governance, institutional failures and other national challenges.

RMD spoke at the 2026 Pivot Nigeria Conference in Lagos, where discussions focused on Nigeria’s global image and the social and economic implications of negative perceptions about the country.

Police Arrest Five Men Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts In Borno

The actor noted that Nigeria, which marks 66 years of independence in 2026, is relatively young compared with many countries that are regarded as developed nations. He, however, stressed that the country’s age does not excuse its shortcomings.

“It does not excuse our shortcomings, but it speaks to the fact that we should be patient. We are a country in progress. We are a work in progress, and we must continue doing the work,” RMD said.

He argued that building a stable and prosperous nation requires sustained effort, patience and a shared commitment to nation-building, while acknowledging the need for Nigeria to make progress at a faster pace.

RMD also urged Nigerians to change the way they view and discuss the country, saying citizens should not ignore existing problems but should focus more on finding solutions to them.

“We are too quick to condemn ourselves; reframing the lens through which we look at Nigeria is not lying that there are no problems. It is saying that we need to fix them,” he said.

The filmmaker further called on Nigerians to move beyond criticism by offering practical ideas and solutions to the country’s challenges, stressing that nation-building requires contributions from citizens across different sectors.