The Lagos State Government has renewed its commitment to empowering young people with the skills, opportunities and support required to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance on Wednesday at the fourth edition of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Generation Next Forum, held at the Queens Park Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The forum, themed “Building Tomorrow Today: Youth as Catalysts of a Digital, Inclusive and Sustainable Economy,” brought together young Nigerians and key stakeholders to discuss the role of the next generation in shaping the country’s economic future.
Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, the Governor said the rapid expansion of technology, fintech, artificial intelligence and digital enterprise had positioned young Nigerians at the heart of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
He, however, stressed that technological advancement must be complemented by integrity, creativity, discipline and a commitment to solving real-world problems.
Sanwo-Olu urged young Nigerians to take ownership of their future rather than wait for opportunities to come their way, encouraging them to embrace initiative, learn from setbacks and define success by the value they create and the lives they positively impact.
“Do not wait for someone to hand you the future. Start building it,” he charged.
The Governor also highlighted youth-focused interventions implemented by his administration under the THEMES+ Development Agenda, particularly in the areas of human capital development, technology, employment and economic empowerment.
According to him, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has, over the past decade, disbursed more than ₦15 billion in affordable loans to over 20,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the creation of more than 320,000 jobs.
He further disclosed that the Lagos Innovates initiative had provided more than 750 workspace vouchers, supported over 240 startups and trained about 1,000 young people in software development, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Similarly, the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council recently awarded ₦75 million in grants for research, innovation and STEM education, he said.
Sanwo-Olu called on financial institutions, businesses and other private-sector stakeholders to view young Nigerians as partners in economic development rather than merely as job seekers.
He urged business leaders to create opportunities for experimentation, mentorship and innovation, noting that young people require an ecosystem that allows them to develop ideas, take calculated risks and translate innovation into sustainable enterprises.
The Governor also emphasised the need for digital inclusion, warning that technological transformation must not widen existing social and economic inequalities.
He stressed that young people in communities such as Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu should have access to the same digital opportunities available to their counterparts in Ikeja and Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu commended the CIBN for sustaining the Generation Next Forum, describing the platform as an important avenue for engaging young Nigerians and ensuring that their voices remain central to conversations about the future of the banking sector and the wider economy.
He expressed optimism that with the right skills, opportunities and institutional support, Nigerian youths would not merely inherit the future but actively shape and build a more inclusive, innovative and prosperous one.
The event was attended by prominent stakeholders, including the President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr. Dele Alabi, PhD, FCIB; the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Christiana Sarah; Managing Director of Lotus Bank, Dr. Isiaka Ajani-Lawal; past CIBN Presidents; and a large gathering of Nigerian youths.
