The National Coordinator of NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs, Amb. Dr. Sameera Abdullahi Abubakar, has called for increased investment in Nigerian youths, urging stakeholders to go beyond skills acquisition by providing access to finance, markets, mentorship, technology and sustainable business opportunities.
Abubakar made the call while delivering the opening address at the Second Edition of the International Youth Day Summit 2026, organised by NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs in partnership with NEXUS in Abuja.
The two-day summit, holding from August 26 to 27, is themed, “From Cultural Roots to Green Shoots: Leveraging Technology, Heritage and Policy for Youth-Led Sustainable Development.”
The summit brought together young entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers, professionals, creatives and other stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening youth participation in Nigeria’s economic development.
Abubakar described the summit as more than a gathering, saying it represents a strong statement of confidence in the Nigerian youth.
She stressed that young Nigerians should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of development, but as partners capable of driving economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.
“We are not asking to be spectators in the Nigerian economy. We are ready to be partners in building Nigeria,” she said.
According to her, skills training alone cannot guarantee success, noting that young people also require access to finance, markets, mentorship, technology, internships, apprenticeships and business-development opportunities.
She urged stakeholders to change the conversation from asking what skills young people possess to identifying the opportunities available to connect those skills to productive ventures.
Abubakar also emphasised the need to prepare Nigerian youths for emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital technology, entrepreneurship and the green economy.
She said young people must develop critical thinking, AI readiness, financial literacy, digital competence, creativity and problem-solving skills to remain competitive in the rapidly changing global economy.
Delivering the keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi, advocated stronger policies and partnerships to expand economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
Gbadamosi called for greater regional economic cooperation, urging African countries to create an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to participate actively in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
She identified technology, entrepreneurship and the creative industries as key areas with the potential to help young Africans expand their businesses and participate more effectively in the continental economy.
The National President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, was represented at the event by Chief Dapo Adelega, who delivered remarks on his behalf.
The representation reaffirmed NACCIMA’s commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship, private-sector development and increased economic participation by young Nigerians.
The summit also provided a platform for discussions on technology, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, public policy, green growth and sustainable development.
Participants emphasised the need to combine Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage with technology and innovation to create sustainable economic opportunities for the younger generation.
The organisers said the summit would strengthen networking, knowledge-sharing and strategic partnerships while promoting practical solutions to help young people transform their ideas into enterprises, their skills into careers and their innovations into solutions.
Abubakar called on stakeholders to move from conversation to action by listening to young people, investing in their potential and creating platforms that allow them to take the lead.
“The future of Nigeria is not something we should simply talk about. The future is here and it is young,” she said.
