Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday advocated for the deliberate building and strengthening of institutions for grooming young talent, warning that the nation’s bulging youth population risks becoming a liability without strategic investment.
Speaking at the Abuja Dialogue 2026, hosted by his office and Lagos State’s Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s youngest countries demands more than rhetoric.
“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 told the gathering.
Vice President Shettima, noted that true progress hinges on systems ensuring leadership continuity, not just natural resources or government programs.
He called for “structured pathways” in education, public service, and civic institutions to prepare youth for responsibility through hands-on practice and accountability.
“Leadership grows when young people are given room to learn, to contribute, to make decisions, and to be held accountable for results,” he said.
The Vice President described leadership as “readiness to bear consequences” rather than age or applause, urging youth to prioritize national purpose over personal comfort.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose State academy co-convened the event, praised the federal partnership and highlighted Lagos’s ecosystem—including the academy’s public-sector immersions, mentorships, and capstone projects alongside funds for jobs, skills, and startups.
He called for nationwide policy commitments and budgets to harness youth potential.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, described youth leadership as “infrastructure” vital for institutions.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande affirmed President Bola Tinubu administration’s support for platforms enabling young Nigerians to lead.
Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, the academy’s executive secretary, pushed to elevate youth development from policy margins to core governance.
NewsQuest reports that the dialogue signals growing federal-state alignment on turning Nigeria’s demographic dividend into a leadership engine amid global shifts in technology and economics.
