Renowned economist and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, has declared that Nigeria’s path to sustainable growth lies in deliberately positioning youths as drivers of development rather than passive beneficiaries.
Ekpo, who made the assertion in his keynote address at the 7th Youth Opportunity Summit, Uyo 2026, themed “Leveraging Opportunities: Building a Future-Ready Youth,” held at the Ibom-Led Centre in Uyo on Monday, emphasised that the nation’s demographic advantage must be transformed into productive capacity through policies that prioritise skills, innovation and enterprise.
“For any nation to achieve sustainable growth and development, the youth must be seen not as passive recipients of aid but as strategic partners and change agents,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, academia, the private sector and international agencies to build systems that enable young people to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the convener and Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, Hauwa Liman, urged Nigerian youths to stop waiting for elusive white-collar jobs and instead leverage social media and digital platforms to build skills, create opportunities and secure their future.
Liman said that in an era of digital transformation, young people no longer need political connections or “long leg” to succeed, stressing that commitment to personal development remains the most powerful tool for advancement.
“It is possible for you to accomplish whatever you set out to achieve. There are many opportunities locally and globally, but government can only act as an enabler,” she said.
She urged youths to deploy social media beyond entertainment, noting that such platforms provide direct access to global opportunities, applications and professional networks without intermediaries.
“We are in the age of social media; use it to develop yourselves. You don’t need a godfather. When you invest in yourself and commit to growth, other opportunities will open,” Liman added.
Setting the broader tone of the summit, the convener described the initiative as a movement aimed at equipping young Nigerians with exposure, funding and policy relevance.
She disclosed that since its launch in 2024, the summit has engaged over 12,000 youths across seven cities, supported more than 80 entrepreneurs with over N13 million in grants and mobilised more than 255 volunteers.
According to her, the platform has become a launch pad for transformation, with participants leveraging opportunities to gain recognition, expand businesses and gain direction in their careers.
She added that insights from over 100 youth-led ventures indicate that most innovations are concentrated in agriculture, technology and the creative sector, reflecting a growing shift towards capacity-building over dependency.
Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth Development and co-convener, Ekerete Ekanem, urged participants to take advantage of existing government programmes.
Chairman of the occasion and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, in her opening remarks, cautioned Nigerian youths against procrastination, stressing that the nation’s future depends on a proactive, empowered and opportunity-driven youth population.