Sanwo-Olu, Adesina urge youths to drive innovation, nation-building
By Adeola Ogunrinde
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina have urged young Nigerians to take active roles in leadership, innovation and nation-building, stressing the need for mentorship, skills development and meaningful youth participation in shaping the country’s future.
They made the call at the Seyi Tinubu Colloquium, themed “Shaping the Future Together,” which brought together political leaders, government officials, traditional rulers, business executives and youth leaders to discuss leadership, economic development and the contributions of young Nigerians to national progress.
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu drew on his public service experience to highlight the importance of mentorship, recalling how opportunities extended to him and other young leaders more than two decades ago helped shape their careers. He urged established leaders to provide similar support to younger Nigerians through guidance, practical experience and opportunities to contribute to governance and other sectors.
The governor stressed that leadership legacy should not be measured solely by individual achievements but also by the ability to prepare the next generation to sustain and improve on existing progress. He therefore encouraged young Nigerians to participate actively in initiatives that would strengthen their capacity to influence decisions and contribute meaningfully to society.
In his keynote address, Adesina, chairman of the Diamonds for Development Fund, said Africa’s rapidly growing population presented both an opportunity and a responsibility for its leaders. He argued that population growth alone would not translate into prosperity without deliberate investments in education, technical training, innovation and human capacity development.
Adesina added that Africa’s future competitiveness would depend on the ability of its young people to create businesses, develop technologies and solve pressing social and economic problems. His remarks reinforced the need to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to turn the continent’s demographic potential into sustainable economic growth.
Also speaking, Seyi Tinubu urged young Nigerians to take ownership of the country’s future by participating in decision-making and engaging constructively with policies and reforms that affect their lives. He said the transfer of responsibility should begin before the transfer of political office, encouraging youths to study issues, ask critical questions, propose practical solutions and take responsibility for achieving results.
Earlier, the chairman of the planning committee, Moyo Adebanjo, said the colloquium was designed to bridge generational gaps by combining the experience of established leaders with the ideas and creativity of younger Nigerians. Adebanjo expressed hope that the discussions would generate practical ideas and renewed commitments to initiatives that improve lives, particularly those of young people.
