“We believe that none of you belongs to tomorrow, for we are a young nation by our demography, by our history, and by our pursuits,” Shettima said when he spoke at the 5th Annual Under 30 CEOs Awards and Gala Night at the Shehu Musa Yar’AduaYar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on the theme “A Flower for the Nigerian Youth.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled, ‘‘VP Shettima hails youths as ‘‘pillars of today’’ at the awards gala, vows support for future unicorns.’’
Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on National Economic Council and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, emphasised young people’s crucial role in shaping the nation’snation’s future.
Highlighting Nigeria’s median age of 19, the Vice President framed it as a “demographic dividend” ripe for investment.
“You are our inspiration to focus on cultivating a robust human capital,” he said, envisioning a future where young Nigerians ascend to corporate heights, build billion-dollar empires, and inspire generations of entrepreneurs.
Recognising the challenges of managing a nation’snation’s aspirations, Shettima emphasised the need for an enabling environment.
“This is a phase in the life of this nation where the drive for change must meet our commitment to creating an enabling environment,” he stated, vowing to make young people “ambassadors in a world coming to terms with the inevitability of the Nigerian as a pathfinder, a pace-setter, a trendsetter, and a champion.”
He further pledged collaboration, stating, “We are going to work with you because strategic governance isn’t just an interplay of diverse perspectives and synergy; it’s an investment in succession planning.”
This collaboration, Shettima explained, would bridge the gap between generations and sectors, fostering an exchange of ideas and ensuring the best minds contribute to the nation’s progress.
The VP also aligned the aspirations of young Nigerians with the vision of President Bola Tinubu, who he described as seeing “young Nigerians as harbingers of progress, the drivers of whatever reform we have set in place.”
He explained that this vision would be realised by creating an ecosystem that spawns “more Aliko Dangote among you.”
Acknowledging the economic challenges, Shettima countered with optimism and action, saying, “Our vehicle to where we are headed isn’t just optimism,”
He added, “We are driven by our collective strategic thinking and commitment to putting it into practice.”
The Vice President pointed to the resilience of Nigeria’s business landscape, boasting 23 billion-dollar enterprises even amidst the pandemic.
“Today, we take a step forward one more time to declare that we are here for business, literally,” he asserted.
Therefore, he reassured the young entrepreneurs of the government’s support, promising, “We will be here to give you your flowers, we will always celebrate your ascent up the ladder, and I want you to see this government as your partner, as your ally.”
