The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has cautioned that the country’s status as one of the youngest nations in the world will hold little value without deliberate investment in institutions that match its growing population.
Shettima made the remarks on Monday evening in Abuja during the Abuja Dialogue 2026, organised by the Office of the Vice-President in collaboration with the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy.
Speaking at the event, the vice president stressed that Nigeria’s youthful demographic must no longer be treated as a talking point but as a strategic reality requiring urgent policy attention.
“We are one of the youngest nations on earth. That fact should not be treated as a line for conferences or a statistic for brochures. It is a national condition with profound consequences,” he said.
He warned that without urgent investment in education, skills development, and economic opportunities, the country’s rapidly growing youth population could become a liability rather than a driver of national growth.
Shettima called for a deliberate and forward-looking framework for youth leadership development, noting that Nigeria’s future would depend on strong institutions capable of sustaining leadership continuity.
According to him, leadership in today’s world must be cultivated through structured systems that prepare young people for responsibility, rather than being left to chance.
“Youth leadership must be understood with clarity. It is not a ceremonial handover waiting for age to perform its arithmetic, but a structured process where young people are prepared, trusted, and integrated into national institutions,” he added.
Also speaking, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the dialogue reflects growing recognition of youth leadership as a national priority.
He highlighted the role of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy as a platform for grooming young Nigerians through practical public sector experience.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande noted that Nigerian youths are ready to contribute meaningfully to national development, adding that the administration of Bola Tinubu remains committed to creating enabling opportunities for them.
The event brought together government officials, development partners, and young leaders, with participants calling for stronger policy frameworks, funding, and political will to transform youth potential into sustainable national progress.
