Nigeria’s young people must move from consuming technology to creating solutions that can compete internationally, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has said.
Call for creators, not consumers
NASENI Executive Vice Chairman Khalil Halilu delivered the message at the 2026 Emerging Youth Leaders Summit in Abuja, hosted by Gracelink Foundation. He was represented by the agency’s acting Director of Research and Laboratory Development, Bakare Hassan.
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The summit, themed Rise, Build, Become, brought together more than 1,000 young Nigerians, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. Speakers focused on the skills, mentoring and institutional support needed to help young people turn ideas into useful products, businesses and careers.
Halilu said Nigeria’s future competitiveness would depend on whether young people could gain the knowledge, technology and opportunities to tackle national challenges. He urged participants to pursue science, engineering and technology pathways, including through NASENI’s science kits programme for secondary schools.
He also said young innovators needed access to finance, mentoring and support to move promising ideas towards viable enterprises.
Leadership beyond political office
Gracelink Foundation president Obioma Levi-Johnson called for leadership education and mentorship programmes in schools. She said teachers must be equipped to help nurture responsible, values-led young people from an early age.
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Her message was that leadership should not be narrowly defined by elected office. Young Nigerians, she said, can lead through medicine, engineering, technology and other professions by solving problems and contributing to their communities.
The foundation said the event was designed primarily for teenagers aged 13 to 18, pairing them with professionals and innovators to help them make more informed choices about future careers.
Innovation and political choices
Gracelink chairman Samuel Ekweghariri also linked youth development to civic responsibility ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. He urged young voters to assess candidates by their record, performance and ability to address social and economic challenges rather than appearances, promises or inducements.
Ekweghariri argued that reliable electricity and affordable internet access are essential if emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence are to create opportunities for young people. His intervention underscored a wider point: innovation cannot flourish through individual ambition alone; it also depends on public infrastructure and policy choices.
Why it matters
For Black communities across Africa and the diaspora, Nigeria’s ability to convert its vast youth population into creators, engineers and entrepreneurs carries continental significance. Nigeria has the talent base, but innovation requires sustained investment in schools, laboratories, connectivity, financing and routes from prototype to market.
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NASENI has recently expanded programmes intended to support young innovators, including FutureMakers and the agency’s Innovation Hub. The challenge now is ensuring that opportunities reach young people beyond major cities and remain available long after summit speeches and competitions end.