Ednue Initiative Founder Seeks Stronger Youth Role in Nation Building
The Founder of Ednue Initiative, Ahmad Tubo, has called on young Nigerians to take a more active role in nation building through education, intellectual engagement and community-driven solutions to the country’s growing socio-economic challenges.
Tubo made the call at the fourth Annual Conference of the Ednue Initiative, a one-day interactive conference held at Nile University, Abuja, with the theme: “Redefining the Role of Youth: Driving Real Impact for Nigeria’s Economy, Society, and Geopolitical Stability.”
The conference was designed to equip young leaders, innovators and changemakers with practical insights, strategic networks and actionable ideas for national transformation.
He said the country’s future depends on the willingness of young people to move beyond discussions and commit themselves to meaningful action that promotes national development.
According to him, the annual conference was organised to sustain conversations around critical national issues while providing a platform for participants to learn from experienced public servants, policy experts and advocates who have contributed to Nigeria’s democratic and developmental journey.
Tubo said the initiative draws inspiration from the ideals of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, whose leadership was anchored on service, humility and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary people.
Quoting the late Sardauna of Sokoto, he reminded participants that leadership is a responsibility entrusted by God and should be exercised with sincerity and dedication to the common good.
“Are we all satisfied with what is, or will we all work for what could be?” he asked, urging participants to reflect on their individual responsibilities toward building a better society.
The Ednue Initiative founder noted that Nigeria is currently facing enormous challenges, including insecurity and the rising number of out-of-school children, particularly across Northern Nigeria, stressing that such realities demand practical solutions rather than endless complaints.
He said young people must equip themselves intellectually and professionally to contribute meaningfully to addressing these challenges, adding that the experiences of accomplished leaders provide valuable lessons that can inspire innovative solutions.
“We cannot continue to fold our arms and make idle talk while we dream of a better future. Such a future demands dedication, hard work and sacrifice to be built,” Tubo said.
He explained that one of the objectives of the conference was to expose participants to practical experiences from individuals who have either succeeded or failed in implementing public policies and advocacy initiatives, enabling young people to learn from both successes and setbacks.
According to him, the ultimate goal is to inspire more young Nigerians to embrace leadership, innovation and active citizenship in ways that will positively influence their communities, the nation and the African continent.
While speaking, Ambassador Elesony Bakare, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, challenged participants to rethink their place in Nigeria’s development, declaring that the country’s future is no longer a distant aspiration but a present reality shaped by today’s young people.
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“Nigeria is not waiting for the future. The future is already here, and it has your face,” he said, describing the current generation as the most connected, informed and yet frustrated in the country’s history.
According to him, while digital technology has exposed young people to global opportunities and ideas, many remain frustrated by the disconnect between what they know is possible and the realities they experience daily.
Speaking on the conference theme,
Understanding Nigeria’s Position on the Global Stage, Bakare stressed that meaningful impact begins with a proper understanding of Nigeria’s strategic importance in global affairs.
He noted that Nigeria is home to over 230 million people, making it the sixth most populous country in the world, and projected that it would become the third most populous nation by 2050.
He said Nigeria’s demographic strength, economic size and cultural influence place it in a unique position globally, describing the country as Africa’s largest economy and cultural powerhouse.
From Afrobeats and Nollywood to financial technology, he noted, Nigeria’s creative and entrepreneurial influence is already being felt across the world.
In his remarks, Barrister Musa Alhaji Adamu, a legal practitioner, commended the organisers for convening a timely conversation that prepares young Nigerians for the demands of the future.
He argued that the country’s older generation had fallen short in preserving the quality of education, leadership and opportunities it inherited, leaving today’s youth to confront mounting challenges such as insecurity, unemployment and declining access to education.
According to him, despite Nigeria’s abundant natural and mineral resources, poor leadership and years of neglect have made the path ahead far more difficult for the younger generation.
He urged young people to respond by embracing integrity, honesty and selflessness while rejecting religious, ethnic and sectional divisions.
Foremost human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, challenged Nigerian youths to become active agents of national transformation, drawing from his personal experience of being detained for seven months at the age of 16 after participating in pro-democracy protests following the assassination of Kudirat Abiola.
He said those experiences never discouraged him from speaking truth to power, arguing that Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not a lack of resources but a persistent failure of leadership, accountability and governance.
While acknowledging the country’s enormous human and natural endowments, he maintained that successive governments have failed to create systems that enable citizens and businesses to thrive.
Adeyanju criticised what he described as a political culture that rewards mediocrity and discourages enterprise, lamenting that governments often create policies that frustrate businesses instead of supporting them.
He advocated a “bloodless revolution” that would produce a new generation of accountable leaders and insisted that politics should be driven by service rather than personal enrichment.
Calling for greater investment in security, education and public institutions instead of political privileges, he urged young Nigerians to reclaim the country’s future from self-serving politicians, stressing that lasting national progress would only come when ordinary citizens, rather than political elites, determine Nigeria’s direction.
