The 2025 Youth Opportunity Summit, convened in collaboration with the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Oyo State Government and the Inspire for Impact Initiative, with a unified call for young Nigerians to leverage innovation, embrace ethical leadership, and take ownership of the nation’s future.
The summit held on Saturday, December 6, at the historic Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, brought together an impressive array of national leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and youth advocates under the theme; Leveraging Opportunity: Building a Future-Ready Youth.
The event attracted high-profile dignitaries, including the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale; former Director of the Institute of African Studies and Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Oladele Layiwola; the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ms. Wasilat Adegoke, represented by the Director of Youth Development, Mrs. Kudirat Mustapha; the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women and Youth Engagement, Hajia Hauwa Liman; the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Kolade Fasua; Dr. Ekundayo Samuel, the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association of Nigeria (COSFAN) President; as well as senior aides from Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos State governments, business consultants, development partners, and hundreds of young Nigerians from across the region.
The summit served as a strategic platform to bridge the gap between education and opportunity, equip young Nigerians with skills for the evolving job market, and foster meaningful engagement between government and the youth.
The event also featured cultural performances, raffle draws, and a major highlight — the Indigenous Language Business Pitching Contest, where the top three young innovators received ₦200,000, ₦300,000, and ₦500,000 respectively to support their entrepreneurial visions.
Since its launch in 2024, the summit has grown into a strategic platform for equipping young Nigerians with skills, mentorship, business support and access to opportunities across governance, entrepreneurship, technology, the creative sector and community engagement.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale praised the summits vision and emphasized the necessity of ethical leadership and digital inclusion for national progress.
On behalf of the entire University Council, Senate, staff and students of the University of Ibadan, I welcome you all. A sustainable future is impossible without good governance and ethical leadership, he said.
The vast challenges obstructing Africa, including our own Nigeria, can only be addressed through this lens. I am delighted to see initiatives focused on training young people in governance and leadership.
He charged the youth to be patriotic and solution-driven: As we unlock potential, we must channel creativity, determination and knowledge towards solving national challenges with an unwavering moral compass. Our youth must believe in the Nigerian project and contribute to nation-building.
He called on partners to bridge the gap between learning and earning: I urge all our esteemed partners to deepen collaboration, provide more internships, participate in career fairs and help us align academic training with the demands of the global workforce.
To the youth, he affirmed: Your aspirations should not be confined by geography. Upskill continuously, build a global mindset, and use your talents to solve problems in your community. A future that feels possible is a future within reach.
Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Oladele Layiwola, in his remarks, commended the summit for igniting conversations that Nigeria urgently needs. He challenged young people to pursue discipline, moral character, knowledge and resilience.
The youth must rise to their generational responsibility. The future will favour those who cultivate competence, creativity and character, he said. Nigeria is undergoing significant transformation, and young people must prepare themselves intellectually and ethically to take the lead.
Represented by the Director of Youth Development, Mrs. Kudirat Mustapha, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ms. Wasilat Adegoke, applauded the initiative and reiterated the Makinde administrations commitment to youth inclusion.
She noted that more young people now serve in government than ever before, occupying positions as commissioners, special advisers and special assistants.
This shows His Excellencys belief in youth inclusiveness and empowerment, she said. I urge our youth to be committed to their development with responsibility and sincerity of purpose. You are agents of change and the hope of our nation.
She also encouraged NGOs, philanthropists, institutions and political leaders to complement government efforts in developing young people.
In her inspiring message, Convener and Technical Adviser to the Vice President, Hajia Hauwa Liman, described the summit as a growing movement transforming youth across Nigeria.
She shared the platforms remarkable achievements: 15,000+ youth engaged across six states, 80+ entrepreneurs supported through mentorship and grants, 225+ trained volunteers, Businesses thriving in agriculture, creative sector, and technology. Opportunities do not come fully formed—they come as seeds, she said.
This summit is your soil. You are the farmer. Plant something today. Network intentionally, invest in yourself, and believe in the power of your own story.
She emphasized that her own rise—from Mandela Washington Fellowship to global leadership platforms—was powered by preparation and self-development, not luck. Opportunities made me. I am where I am because I leveraged them. You must do the same.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Tope Kolade Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, said the summits theme is the most urgent conversation Nigeria must have with its youth. We often call the youth leaders of tomorrow, but the future is already here. You must rise to it, he said.
Citing a Native American principle, he stressed shared responsibility across generations: We are holding our nation in trust for those yet unborn.
He urged young Nigerians not to underestimate the opportunities available at home: You do not have to leave the country to make it. Nigeria has room for your dreams.
Highlighting government reforms aimed at creating economic stability, he added: Your role is not to be mere recipients of grants or loans but ethical leaders, innovators and job creators. The tomorrow we sought is here, and it is in your hands.
After the summit, CEOAFRICA held exclusive interviews with key dignitaries, who shared strong insights about the theme, the future of Nigerian youth, and the nations development trajectory.
Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, VC, University of Ibadan: It is a privilege to declare this summit open
The Vice Chancellor said the summit was long overdue and must be put to practical use to harness Nigerias demographic advantage.
It has been a privilege to declare this summit open, organized by the Office of the Vice President. There is no doubt that we are blessed in the African continent—especially Nigeria—when you have a continent that has up to 60% of its populace aged 30 years and below. That is enormous strength.
He warned that the strength of Nigerias youth will count for little unless it is properly channelled. Even though we have all those channels put together, we need to channel it properly so that it will benefit and be beneficial to the nation. A summit like this is long overdue to reorientate the youth, unveil their potentials and direct them so that they will be focused to address the challenges that we face in the nation.
Prof. Adebowale urged stakeholders to use platforms like the summit to convert talent into tangible national development outcomes. Young people must be given direction, mentorship and opportunities to translate their skills into solutions for national problems. This is exactly the kind of engagement that will make our demographic dividend a reality.
Mr. Mustapha, Chairman Organizing Committee: We are here to bridge the gap between education and opportunity. Speaking on the choice of theme, he explained:
The theme was chosen because a vast part of Nigerias population is made up of youth. It is important to build them because they hold the future we dream of. We are here to equip the young people of Ibadan to bridge the gap between education and opportunity. Nigerias unemployment problem is not from lack of talent—opportunities are simply not accessible.
He advised the youth: Start from where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. The future you dream of will not be served to you—you must be intentional.
Hajia Hauwa Liman, Convener & Technical Adviser to the Vice President: The government is listening. Young people are being carried along like never before.
She explained the inspiration behind the project: This initiative was driven by the administrations commitment to carrying young people along. Government understands that there has been a disconnect between youth-focused initiatives and their actual beneficiaries. We created this project to close that gap and link young people to opportunities that can improve their lives and strengthen national development.
She revealed that Oyo State is the 6th state visited within one year, adding: We now have a direct understanding of what young people want. Agriculture leads the areas of interest, followed by the creative sector, technology and innovation. We provide grants, we build partnerships with state governments, and we are happy that this is becoming a movement.
Her message to young Nigerians: Start where you are. Use what you have. Leverage available opportunities. Use the internet wisely.
Dr. Ekundayo Samuel, COSFAN President: There is no better time for this summit than now.
Looking at the state of the nation, everyone must come together to solve challenges — and there are no better people to lead this than the youth. Diversity is our strength. Youth must be represented in all decisions that shape the future of the country.
Amb. Orioye Benedict Gbayisemore, SSA to Ondo State Governor on Youth Empowerment: We are here as a region to harness opportunities for Nigerian youth.
He highlighted collaboration among Southwest states: We have scattered opportunities across different agencies; it is important we come together to harmonize them. In Ondo State, we run the One Youth, One Skill initiative. Every youth must have a skill. We build enterprises around their passion.
He added: In the next five years, Ondo will become the job hub of the Southwest. There are jobs out there—develop your passion.
Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs: The future is already here. Youth must build skills and add value. AI, technology and global changes show that the future is now. Passion keeps you going even when money isnt there. Opportunity comes in disguise—every person you meet is an opportunity depending on how you approach it.
Prof. Oladele Layiwola, Former Director, Institute of African Studies: Youth are the greatest creators of innovation; Nigeria must listen to them.
He praised the summit: This summit is like a parallel mode of governance because it reaches directly to the grassroots and the youth themselves. Young people today are more creative and skill-driven than any generation before them.
He warned: Our style of politics and governance is outdated. We must restructure policymaking; Africa is lagging behind because we have refused to reinvent our systems. If we dont create the right environment, our young people will keep leaving.
Other Dignitaries Shared Powerful Insights
Mrs. Kudirat Mustapha, Oyo State Ministry of Youth & Sports: Everyone—not just government—must support youth engagement. Take calculated risks. Start small. Rise again if you fall.
Dr. Lanre Philips, Business Consultant: Opportunities are no longer handed out—you must go and grab yours. Stay adaptable; the excitement of yesterday is todays mediocrity.
Mrs. Memunat, Tech Founder & Co-organizer: Nigerian youth are ever ready. They only need mindset change. Start small, start smart, stay relevant.
Amb. Segun Oyewole, SA to Osun Governor: Youth must not limit themselves to their environment. Get a skill. Engage. Dream beyond your current space.
Voices of the Youth: Participants Speak
Mr. Suleiman Olumide: This is an eye-opener for Nigerias youth. Rather than focus on challenges, we must search for opportunities.
Boluwade Ayomide Emmanuel, NYSC Member: The future is now. Youth must overcome fear and showcase their passion.
Mr. Lekan, PDP Youth Leader, Oyo State: Our youth are gifted and innovative. If government remains sincere, young people can become independent and reduce the burden on the state.
The Youth Opportunity Summit 2025 succeeded in doing more than gathering great minds. It created a united front — government, academia, private sector and youth — committed to building a Nigeria where young people can access opportunities, innovate freely and contribute meaningfully to national development.
With strong participation from government, academia, industry and civil society, the Youth Opportunity Summit 2025 delivered a powerful blend of policy dialogue, empowerment, innovation, cultural celebration and economic opportunity.
The summit ended with a renewed commitment to build a future-ready generation of Nigerian youth equipped to lead, innovate and transform the nation.
From grants to policy insights, from pitch competitions to mentorship, the summit reinforced one message: Nigerias youth are ready. And the future is already unfolding.
