Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has identified Nigeria’s youth as the country’s most valuable asset for achieving global economic influence.
He made this assertion during the inaugural Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), where he also announced an endowment for a new Foreign Policy School at the institute.
Speaking on the theme, “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power,” Sanwo-Olu stated that with an estimated 100 million people under the age of 20, Nigeria has one of the world’s largest youth populations.
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He described this demographic as an “extraordinary asset” that, if properly leveraged, can propel the nation to global prominence.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that a country’s power is no longer solely determined by military might or oil wealth, but by a combination of factors including economic power, technological capacity, and demographic strength.
He urged Nigeria to transition from being a consumer to a producer in cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
The governor highlighted that Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target by 2030 is achievable, especially with the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates.
He described Lagos as the “beating heart of Nigeria” and the country’s “laboratory for growth and innovation,” arguing that the state’s economic strength is crucial for Nigeria’s overall competitiveness.
In a move to further strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic and policy capabilities, Sanwo-Olu accepted a request from the NIIA to endow a Foreign Policy School, which will serve as a department for advanced research and policy development.
The NIIA’s Director-General, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, noted that Sanwo-Olu is the first serving governor to deliver a lecture in the institute’s 64-year history.
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The event was attended by academics, policy researchers, professionals, industry leaders, and traditional rulers, who listened as the governor outlined his vision for Nigeria’s future.
He stressed the importance of collective self-belief and hard work to turn the country’s ambitions into reality.
