Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the director general of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has warned Nigerians against exaggerating the scale of the nation's issues.
In an interview with reporters on Sunday in Abuja, the head of the NCAC made the request.
He claimed that exaggerating the magnitude of the nation's issues could impede its progress and development.
He asserts that while problems like insecurity are difficult, for example, the best thing for citizens to do is to keep pressing on while the problem-solving efforts of the appropriate agencies are ongoing.
“There is no country in the world that is 100 per cent free of insecurity and there is no country in the world that does not have its own Boko Haram (insurgents).
“Also, there is no country in the world that would wait until the entire security network becomes 100 per cent before they start protecting what they have.
“For instance, NCAC held a programme recently in Abuja and we had over 54 countries in attendance and over 42 ambassadors.
“What does that tell us, it tells us that yes, we have challenges but we do not have to wait until the last day of our challenges before we move Nigeria forward.”
Runsewe called for a concerted effort by Nigerians to help the country navigate through its challenges.
“The Northerners have a proverb that says no matter how pretty someone is, the person will have to continue bathing to maintain the beauty.
“So, Nigeria is a beautiful country and we should continue to bathe it to maintain it, despite the challenges and in no time by the grace of God, we will overcome the problems.
“We sincerely hope that we overcome some of these challenges because no country can become a champion if it does not overcome its challenges.”
The director-general also called for respect for one another’s culture, saying it was a panacea to peaceful co-existence in the country.
Runsewe said the different cultures in Nigeria had different ways of doing things, noting that every culture should be respected.
“An Igbo man would break kola nut and pour libation to celebrate and someone gets angry and asks why he should break kola nut. Well, that is his culture.
“Again, you go to the Hausa man’s house and he asks you to remove your shoes because he prays there and you pick offence, saying what rubbish.
“Then you go to the Yoruba man’s house and you meet him eating with his hands with the smoke of the amala (yam meal) coming out of every part of his hands and you say it is local.
“With all these scenarios, I have painted, definitely we will have disagreements. So, we should respect one another’s culture for peace to reign.”
Runsewe, however, expressed his optimism that Nigeria would eventually overcome its challenges and take its pride of place in the comity of nations.