Nigeria's youth population is at risk of becoming a wasted resource unless matched with strategic institutional investment, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said. He spoke on Monday in Abuja at the Abuja Dialogue 2026, an event organised by the Office of the Vice-President in collaboration with Lagos State's Lateef Jakande Initiative. Shettima emphasized that the country's status as one of the youngest nations globally holds no inherent advantage without corresponding policies and infrastructure to harness young people's potential. He described the current youth bulge as a double-edged sword—capable of driving growth or deepening instability if neglected. The Vice President called for coordinated action across government institutions to create systems that empower young Nigerians economically, socially, and politically. He did not announce new policies or funding initiatives during the event. The Abuja Dialogue 2026 is part of a broader national conversation on governance and development ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kashim Shettima's warning that Nigeria's youth population is "useless" without investment cuts through the usual political praise of young people as the nation's future. For a sitting Vice President to use such blunt language signals discomfort with the gap between rhetorical celebration of youth and the lack of structural support. It is not the first time a high-ranking official has flagged youth unemployment or underdevelopment, but few have framed it as a national liability rather than a solvable challenge.
This statement emerges amid rising economic pressure, with youth unemployment officially at 53.4 percent as of Q4 2023, and widespread frustration visible in migration trends and protest movements. The fact that the event was co-hosted by Lagos State's Lateef Jakande Initiative adds a subtle political layer, linking current governance debates to a legacy of regional policy experimentation. Shettima's call for institutional investment—without detailing specific mechanisms—reflects a growing consensus among technocrats but lacks traction without budgetary commitment.
Ordinary Nigerians, especially those under 35, face the direct consequences of this policy vacuum. Millions are excluded from formal employment, education, and political participation, increasing vulnerability to exploitation or apathy. Without targeted programs in skills development, civic engagement, and job creation, demographic momentum will continue to translate into social strain.
This moment fits a broader pattern: Nigerian leaders increasingly acknowledge systemic failures while stopping short of actionable reform, especially in election cycles.
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