Shettima Calls for Structured Youth Leadership Framework at Abuja Dialogue 2026
Shettima Calls for Structured Youth Leadership Framework at Abuja Dialogue 2026
Shettima Calls for Structured Youth Leadership Framework at Abuja Dialogue 2026
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a deliberate and forward-looking framework for youth leadership development, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s long-term progress and stability.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the Abuja Dialogue 2026, convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, the Vice President warned that Nigeria’s youthful population would amount to little without structured institutional investment.
“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,” Shettima said.
He stressed that youth leadership must move beyond rhetoric and be treated as a strategic national priority, anchored on policies that prepare young people for responsibility, accountability, and meaningful participation in governance.
According to him, leadership in the modern era cannot be accidental but must be cultivated through structured pathways that integrate young people into institutions shaping the nation’s future.
“Youth leadership is not a ceremonial handover. It is a structured process through which young men and women are prepared, trusted, and supported,” he said.
Shettima noted that sustainable development depends not only on natural resources or government programmes, but on systems that ensure leadership continuity and institutional strength. He added that responsibility and accountability are essential in grooming capable leaders.
Addressing Nigerian youths, the Vice President said the moment presents both an opportunity and a duty to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Leadership is defined by readiness to bear consequences, to choose the long view over easy applause, and to place the common good above private comfort,” he stated.
He commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, for supporting the Dialogue, describing the initiative as a vital contribution to national conversations on leadership renewal.
Earlier, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the role of the Academy as a platform for nurturing young leaders through public sector exposure, mentorship, and practical policy engagement.
Also speaking, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, emphasised that youth leadership must be treated as a strategic investment that shapes national development.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, noted that Nigerian youths are ready to contribute meaningfully, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to providing enabling platforms for their growth.
In her remarks, Executive Secretary of the Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, described the Dialogue as a step toward placing youth leadership at the centre of governance, economic growth, and institutional resilience.
The Abuja Dialogue 2026 is expected to drive consensus on policies and programmes that will strengthen youth participation and leadership development across Nigeria.
Shettima Calls for Structured Youth Leadership Framework at Abuja Dialogue 2026
