Nigeria’s youth population needs structured leadership plan — Shettima

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called for the establishment of a deliberate and forward-looking framework for youth leadership development, warning that the country’s demographic advantage could become a liability without strategic planning.

Speaking on Monday at the Abuja Dialogue 2026 in Abuja, Shettima said Nigeria’s status as one of the world’s youngest nations must be matched with institutional investment and policy direction.

“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,” the Vice President said.

The event was convened by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, an initiative of the Lagos State Government.

Shettima stressed that sustainable national development depends not only on natural resources or government ambition, but on building systems that ensure leadership continuity. He added that youth leadership must be cultivated through structured pathways rather than left to chance.

“Youth leadership must be understood with clarity. It is not a ceremonial handover waiting for age to perform its arithmetic,” he said, noting that young people must be deliberately prepared, trusted and integrated into governance systems.

The Vice President also emphasised the need to move beyond rhetoric, urging policymakers to redesign education, public service and civic institutions to support leadership development. According to him, leadership grows through experience, accountability and gradual assumption of responsibility.

Addressing young Nigerians, Shettima said leadership is defined by readiness to take responsibility and prioritise national interest over personal comfort.