Building A Nigerian Dream Via Youth Innovation

Their statement was that younker indispensable beryllium prepared academically and mentally to prehend opportunities successful governance and policymaking.”

On August 12, 2025, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre successful Abuja hosted the Policy Conference for Youth  with the taxable “Rethinking National Unity: Governance Reforms for Strengthening Social Cohesion successful Nigeria.” The Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris, chaired the conference. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, was the peculiar impermanent of honour. The Senior Special Assistant to the President connected International Cooperation and Secretary-General of CosPAL, Amb. Dapo Oyewole made a superb and eloquent presumption connected the conference’s theme. The league combined artistry and intellect. Guests were welcomed with saxophone renditions and spoken-word poetry, mounting a vibrant tone. But beyond the aesthetics, the league was astir the substantive relation of younker successful shaping Nigeria’s improvement trajectory.

At the bosom of the lawsuit was the Policy Challenge Award, designed to promote young radical to make evidence-based argumentation solutions to nationalist challenges. Out of much than 800 participants crossed Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, 16 finalists were selected. Their presentations ranged from grassroots inclusivity frameworks to Nigeria’s Federal Character rule reforms. Those selected include: Team Doug (University of Lagos), focused connected collaboration to code Nigeria’s declining societal cohesion; Team One (Adeleke University) developed the Harmony successful Diversity Initiative, proposing grassroots frameworks for inclusivity beyond the educated elite; Team Trailblazer (University of Lagos) projected reforms to fortify the Federal Character Principle for greater nationalist unity.

Ultimately, Team One clinched the apical prize, but the diverseness and extent of ideas led Professor Bala Mohammed, a co-moderator, to reason that “everyone was a winner.” Beyond currency rewards, participants besides secured internship placements with government, civilian society, and backstage assemblage organisations.

Amb. Dapo Oyewole reminded the younker that alteration is imaginable if they prolong their efforts, citing the transformational enactment of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki successful South Africa arsenic examples of resilience and hope.

A sheet league titled “Youth arsenic Leaders” showcased accomplished young Nigerians who person translated education, expertise, and passionateness into nationalist service.

Khalil Nur Khalil, presently Economic Adviser to Katsina State Governor, highlighted his travel to becoming the youngest manager successful Nigeria’s civilian service. Dr Jamila Mohammed Dahiru, a lecturer and erstwhile Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, emphasised that governance is not lone for intellectuals but for each citizens. Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, Special Adviser connected Communications astatine the NCC, shared experiences from his clip successful nationalist connection strategy and governance.

Their statement was that younker indispensable beryllium prepared academically and mentally to prehend opportunities successful governance and policymaking.

One of the cardinal figures who reflected the conference’s objectives was Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, Managing Director of Reverso Business Services Ltd and laminitis of the Future Pathways Development Initiative. He has established a estimation for integrating innovation, technology, and governance and antecedently served arsenic a method adjunct connected easiness of doing concern successful the Office of the Vice President.

In his speech, helium challenged young Nigerians to follow a mindset shift: “We are a radical with a government, not a authorities with a people. Leaders indispensable springiness young Nigerians a crushed to dream. They accidental determination is an American Dream; tin we not commencement a Nigerian Dream?”

Ojeniyi recounted his travel from processing a ailment app with a person to moving arsenic an adjutant to Vice President Osinbajo. He stressed that occurrence requires capable and cautious preparation, resilience, and the courageousness to “dance with the system” alternatively than simply criticise it.

He besides called connected leaders to extremity systemic barriers specified arsenic schoolhouse closures, nepotism, and stifling regulations that rob young radical of hope. For him, the younker indispensable spot themselves not arsenic spectators but arsenic co-owners of Nigeria’s destiny.

The Policy Conference for Youth was not simply a one-day event; it underscored the readiness of Nigeria’s younker to presume enactment roles and lend meaningfully to nationalist improvement successful the present, alternatively than astatine immoderate distant future.