by ‘Jola Sotubo

The Future Awards Africa Best 100 Alumni event held on Sunday, December 15 at the State House in Abuja.

The ceremony was attended by many celebrities and top citizens of the country and was opened by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

A speech was delivered by the Executive Director of The Future Project, Chude Jideonwo, to commemorate the event.

Here are 10 of the most notable quotes:

Many people are frustrated. I too am frustrated. Exhausted by the sheer effort it takes to be Nigerians.

I am so, so proud of my generation – and even prouder that The Future Awards Africa has continued to achieve its goal of profiling, creating, building, cheer-leading or simply presenting a huge percentage of the young Nigerians that rule the world presently.

We have proven – especially with those gathered today, icons and influencers who are not necessarily celebrities, but who make things happen across they country across, technology, governance and advocacy – that much is possible in Nigeria, by Nigerians.

I am proud of my friends who are set to make a once-in-a-generation statement about the strength and impact of our numbers at the 100,000 Voices event in January 2014.

We are a generation that has done a lot with so little, that has blossomed like roses amongst thorns.

Mr. President, some will say you are perhaps the first president in my lifetime to take young people seriously as a demographic, even if politically: I am excited when I see your communications technology minister take young Nigerian businessmen to Silicon Valley to broaden their impact or when your coordinating minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala name-checks e-commerce giants Konga and Jumia in important policy pronouncements or when you show off creative industry frontrunners in trips outside Nigeria.

Many are glad for these, especially when they look beyond the sound and the fury. What we are asking for is more. Because, as a generation, we deserve more.

We are determined to sustain this change that we seek; determined to continue working as builders, cementing bridges that can drive change across the country, moving past our comfort zones and going beyond our anger – showing a better way for a new generation.

Because we are Nigerians. And we because we belong to this generation. It is in our character to keep walking, to keep moving, to keep pushing.

Born in a land blessed beyond comparison; we have struggled, we have been afraid, we have even failed, but we have risen time and again, because we are unified by hope, inspired by the possibilities. So here we are standing tall, through adversity, we will stand, we will shine, we will blossom; we will never stop.