Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Kolade Fasua, has declared that the future Nigerian youths often speak about “is no longer tomorrow but today,” urging young people across the country to embrace innovation, resilience and national pride as they shape the next phase of the nation’s development.

Dr. Fasua made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Youth Opportunity Summit 2025, held on Saturday, December 6, at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.

The summit was convened by Inspire for Impact Initiative in collaboration with the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Oyo State Government, themed “Leveraging Opportunity: Building a Future-Ready Youth.”

The event brought together policymakers, captains of industry, academia, development partners, youth-focused organisations, corps members, entrepreneurs, and students from across Nigeria.

Speaking with conviction, Fasua said the theme of the summit captured the most critical conversation Nigeria must have with its young people.

“The theme of this summit is not only timely; it is the single most important discussion we can have with our youth today,” he said. “We often call young people the leaders of tomorrow, but the truth is simple — the future is already here.”

He invoked an age-old Native American principle to buttress his point: “We did not inherit the resources of this land from our ancestors. We are merely holding them in trust for our children yet unborn.”

According to him, this truth places a shared responsibility on both current leaders and today’s youth who will soon occupy national leadership spaces.

Fasua encouraged young Nigerians not to be intimidated by humble beginnings. “Many of our leaders came from backgrounds where they never imagined they would rise to where they are. But they dreamed. They worked. And they arrived,” he said.

“You are still in your prime. Never say never. Always stay positive. Nigeria has enough opportunities for you to thrive — you do not need to leave the country before you make it.”

The presidential adviser acknowledged the rapid transformation brought about by digitalisation and artificial intelligence, stating that technology has opened unprecedented doors for the youth.

“We live in an AI age, but as powerful as AI is, it cannot be more human than a human being. Your relevance cannot be replaced,” he asserted.

He added that for decades Nigeria was described as a nation of “potential,” but the narrative has now shifted. “Today, we no longer talk about potential — we talk about actuality,” he said. “Over 60% of our population is under 30. Nigeria has the largest youth force in Africa and one of the largest in the world. This demographic power is our greatest national asset.”

Fasua noted that the Federal Government has undertaken structural economic reforms to strengthen long-term stability, open fiscal space and channel resources toward youth-focused investments.

“The difficult but necessary reforms were designed to free up capital and create the fiscal room needed to invest in our young people,” he said. “We are talking about real disbursements, measurable impact — not token efforts.”

He highlighted progress in macroeconomic indicators including:

• Faster-than-expected GDP growth,

• A strengthened stock market,

• New student-focused loan schemes,

• Access to startup capital, and

• A growing professional ecosystem across key sectors.

These, he said, form part of a national foundation for stability and shared prosperity.

Fasua urged Nigerian youth to shift mindsets from passive beneficiaries to active contributors. “Your role in nation-building is not only to receive grants or student loans,” he said. “It is to be positive change-makers, ethical leaders and the job creators of the new Nigeria.”

He challenged participants to make intentional choices:

“Choose resilience over despair.”

“Choose innovation over apathy.”

“Choose to invest your talent where it will deliver the greatest human impact.”

He added: “The tomorrow we sought is already here. It is in your hands. Let us work together to create Nigeria’s demographic success story — the greatest Africa has ever seen.”

Closing his keynote, Fasua urged young people never to lose hope in their country. “Let us not take our nation for granted. Let us remain positive. Nigeria’s future is great — and it is now.”

He thanked the organisers and participants for their commitment to youth development.