The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has called for the establishment of a deliberate national framework for youth leadership development, stressing that Nigeria’s large youth population must be matched with strong institutional planning to drive sustainable progress. He warned that the country’s demographic advantage would amount to little without structured investment in leadership systems.

Speaking at the Abuja Dialogue 2026 in Abuja, organised by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with Lagos State’s Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Shettima said Nigeria’s youthful population should be treated as a strategic national asset rather than a rhetorical talking point. He emphasised that leadership must be deliberately cultivated through structured pathways that prepare young people for responsibility within public and private institutions.

He noted that effective leadership development goes beyond slogans, requiring reforms across education, governance, and civic systems to ensure young Nigerians are given opportunities to learn, contribute, and be held accountable. According to him, leadership is built through responsibility, discipline, and practical experience rather than assumptions based on age.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, alongside other speakers, underscored the importance of institutional collaboration in youth development, highlighting ongoing initiatives aimed at skills training, mentorship, and job creation. The Dialogue was described as a key platform for strengthening national consensus on youth leadership as a core pillar of Nigeria’s long-term development strategy.