morgaNABLE Politics/governance
Sanwo-Olu recalled that President Bola Tinubu appointed him as a special adviser when he was about 36 years old during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor.
KaNo—
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, have called for increased investment in employment opportunities, education, skills development and access to finance for African youths to unlock the continent’s economic potential.
The duo stressed that Africa’s rapidly growing youth population could become a major driver of economic growth if governments, businesses and established leaders created opportunities for young people to develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to national development.
They spoke on Monday at the inaugural Seyi Tinubu Colloquium, themed “Shaping the Future Together,” held at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu urged political leaders, employers and business owners to deliberately create opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly those without professional experience or influential connections.
The governor said young people needed access to employment, mentorship and business opportunities to acquire the experience required to assume greater responsibilities in society.
He encouraged established professionals to offer young people their first jobs and contracts while providing guidance that would enable them to develop their capabilities.
Sanwo-Olu recalled that President Bola Tinubu appointed him as a special adviser when he was about 36 years old during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor.
According to him, the appointment provided an opportunity to gain valuable experience in public administration and contributed significantly to his leadership development.
He maintained that similar opportunities should be extended to younger Nigerians to prepare them for leadership positions in government, business and other sectors.
“Mentor a young person that you know has not paid you back. Hire a young person that has no experience, or mentor that person. Give a young person their first contract, or supervise that person,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor explained that mentoring young people should not be restricted to political appointments but should extend to employment, entrepreneurship and professional development.
He urged employers to look beyond applicants’ lack of experience and provide opportunities for them to learn through practical exposure and supervision.
Sanwo-Olu also encouraged experienced professionals to invest their time and resources in developing younger generations without expecting immediate personal rewards.
He argued that the willingness of established leaders to support emerging talents would strengthen institutions and ensure continuity across different sectors.
The governor said leadership should not be assessed solely by infrastructure projects completed or achievements recorded during an individual’s tenure but also by the ability to develop successors.
He stressed that building institutions capable of functioning beyond their founders was essential to sustainable development.
Sanwo-Olu further encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities available in their workplaces, communities and local governments to acquire relevant skills and leadership experience.
He said the country’s future would depend significantly on its ability to harness the creativity, energy and potential of its youthful population.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Africa Next: Building the Demographic Asset Class,” Adesina described Africa’s expanding youth population as an opportunity that required deliberate investment and effective economic policies.
The former AfDB president said Africa was projected to account for approximately one-quarter of the global population by 2050, making investment in human capital increasingly important.
He warned that population growth alone would not guarantee economic prosperity unless African countries prioritised education, healthcare, skills acquisition and productive employment.
Adesina urged governments across the continent to reduce their dependence on natural resources and recognise human capital as a fundamental source of economic transformation.
According to him, young Africans require financial support, access to markets and opportunities to establish businesses capable of generating employment and creating wealth.
“What the young people need is a financial system that is prepared to meet their potential, take appropriate risks and invest in their potential,” Adesina said.
He maintained that youth development initiatives should move beyond conventional empowerment programmes and focus on establishing sustainable systems that enable young entrepreneurs to build successful enterprises.
Adesina cited the establishment of a youth-focused entrepreneurship investment bank in Nigeria as an example of efforts aimed at addressing financing challenges confronting young business owners.
He argued that financial institutions should recognise young entrepreneurs as potential economic assets rather than automatically categorising them as high-risk borrowers because of their age or limited financial history.
The former AfDB president also advocated increased investment in technology, manufacturing, agriculture and education to equip young Africans with the knowledge and practical skills required to compete in a changing global economy.
He described education as a critical investment in national wealth creation, emphasising the importance of developing what he termed “grey matter infrastructure,” referring to the human mind and its capacity for innovation.
“Because when we invest in the mind, in our skills, in our intelligence, everything changes,” he stated.
Adesina explained that investments in education, including student loan initiatives, should be assessed by their effectiveness in preparing young people for productive economic activities.
He challenged African governments to introduce policies that would transform the continent’s demographic growth into technological advancement, entrepreneurship, decent employment and shared prosperity.
Earlier, the convener of the colloquium and founder of the City Boy Movement, Seyi Tinubu, urged young Nigerians to demonstrate competence, integrity and commitment to national development.
Tinubu said gaining access to political leaders should not be regarded as an achievement unless such opportunities were used to make meaningful contributions to society.
He encouraged young people to participate actively in governance, understand government policies, ask critical questions and develop practical solutions to national challenges.
“Political access gives us an opportunity, but what we do with it will only be determined by our worth and also the future of the country,” he said.
Tinubu maintained that young Nigerians must prepare themselves for leadership through continuous learning, responsible engagement and active participation in decision-making.
He also urged older political leaders to share their experience with younger generations and create opportunities for them to contribute to governance.
The speakers emphasised that sustained investment in young people, alongside intergenerational cooperation, would be essential to building stronger institutions and securing Africa’s economic future.
