Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur has commended Nigeria on transformational leadership over the years and the pace that they have set as a nation.

The Vice President made the statement on Thursday when he joined other African and world leaders at a summit level conference in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark the centenary celebration of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern states.

The one-day summit conference on "Human Security, Peace and Development: Agenda for the 21st Century Africa,” is part of the centenary celebration of the unification of Nigeria. The occasion was graced by about thirty two world leaders.

Mr. Kwesi Amissah Arthur said healthy competition between the two nations should to be encouraged and that the two nations should support their leaders for a better life for their people to be realized.

He commended them on the celebration and urged them to continue to keep the peace of the nation. He, however, predicted that Ghana would meet Nigeria at the finals of the World Cup in Brazil.

On his part, the President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, extended warm greetings and felicitations to all Nigerians on the centenary, saying it was a significant milestone in the journey to Nationhood.

The Nigerian Leader observed the growth of African economies, which is propelling them into better lives, a pointer to a better future, but noted the need to secure Africa’s bright prospects with better human security.

He further stated that, “one hundred years ago, on the 1st of January 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates, giving birth to the single geopolitical entity called Nigeria, which has become our home, our hope and our heritage.”

“And it has been with the conviction that the amalgamation was not a mistake. While their union may have been inspired by considerations external to our people; I have no doubt that we are destined by God Almighty to live together as one big nation, united in diversity.”

He further stated that, “like every country of the world, we have had our troubles, and we still do. We have fought a civil war. We have seen civil authorities overthrown by the military. We have suffered sectarian violence. Currently, part of the country is still suffering from the brutal assault of terrorists and insurgents.

"The occasion of our centenary undoubtedly calls for celebration, it is also a moment to pause and reflect on our journey for the past one hundred years, to take stock of our past and consider the best way forward for our nation.”

He called on Nigerians in challenging times to take it easy because “it is easy to become pessimistic and cynical, but hope, when grounded in realism, enables and inspires progress. Therefore, as we celebrate our first century of nationhood and enter a second, we must not lose sight of all that we have achieved since 1914 in terms of nation-building, development and progress,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to be inspired by their past to overcome the obstacles that face in the present and honour their forebears by realizing the promise of a Nigeria that is not only independent, but also truly unified, prosperous and admired by the world.

He took the opportunity to salute the great heroes of Nigeria such as – Herbert Macaulay, Ernest Ikoli, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alvan Ikoku, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Mallam Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye and Chief Michael Imoudu among others.

President Good luck Jonathan thanked all statesmen, women and millions of ordinary Nigerians. He as well commended members of the Armed Forces for their contribution and sacrifices to keep Nigeria as one, adding that, “as we celebrate our centenary, I believe that it is vital that we focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a unified and progressive Nigeria; and build on the relative stability of the Fourth Republic to achieve accelerated national socio-economic development. And believe that the future greatness of Nigeria is assured by the favorable tail winds of a resilient population, ecological diversity, rich natural resources and a national consciousness that rises above the differences.

The summit attracted scores of leaders from the African Continent, French President Francois Hollande, Representatives of the British Prime Minister David Cameroun and US President Barrack Obama, the United Nations Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benyamin Netaynahu; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, President of the European Union and Former African Union Secretary General, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim.