The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Dayo Israel, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has given Nigerian youths greater inclusion and a seat at the table, highlighting youth participation in governance as the country marks International Youth Day.
Speaking with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Israel said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated its commitment to youth inclusion by appointing young Nigerians to key government positions and creating opportunities for them to contribute to governance, while also focusing on human capital development, which he described as essential to fighting poverty and limiting inequality through education.
“The President has been in office, and his antecedents did not begin when he became the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Over the years, he has laid a foundation for the development of young people, even as Governor of Lagos State.
“Many of the people you see today who are governors—including the Governor of Lagos State, former Governor Babatunde Fashola, and former Minister Wale Edun—were part of his cabinet in their 30s, and he gave them a platform. The MD of LAWMA today and many other notable Nigerians were young men in their prime when they joined the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State. So he has always been passionate about giving young people a platform and a voice.
“One of the first things we celebrate about his presidency for Nigerian young people is the inclusion of youth participation and a seat at the table.
“Beyond inclusion, the President has also focused on human capital development. One of the first initiatives focuses on preparing the next generation to fight poverty. The best tool to fight poverty and limit inequality is education,” he highlighted.
Addressing the “Japa” syndrome, Israel said young Nigerians should be encouraged to seek opportunities abroad and return with the skills and exposure gained, adding that the government must make Nigeria more attractive for them to come back.
“As someone who has lived abroad and returned, the decision of young Nigerians to go abroad is not out of place. I always encourage people to go out there.;I look at the ‘Japa’ syndrome from a positive dimension. We have a very strong population, and we should not limit young Nigerians to finding opportunities only here; we need to encourage them to go out.The goal is to bring those skills back into our system, or for youth to see a nation worth returning to.
“Secondly, where does the government come in? The government has a duty to ensure home becomes more attractive for people to want to return, and that is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing through building infrastructure,” he added.
On the opportunities the Tinubu administration is offering Gen Zs and young people in Nigeria, the APC Youth Leader said the government was creating an enabling environment for innovation and enterprise to thrive, allowing young Nigerians to earn in dollars through remote work, freelancing and content creation.
“One of the first things I would say is that the President is creating an enabling environment for innovation and enterprise to thrive in Nigeria. Many of our young people now do not just earn in Naira; they also earn in US Dollars. Years ago, you couldn’t transact with Facebook or use a Nigerian Mastercard for more than $100 abroad over a three-month period. That is different now. After the President allowed the Dollar to reflect its true market value in Nigeria, our foreign reserves increased.
“What does that mean for youth? It means situations exist today where Nigerians can use their international Mastercards for up to $20,000 a month abroad. Young people working online, doing remote work, freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr, and creating content can earn beyond the shores of Nigeria to improve their livelihoods, society, and tax base,” he said.
On insecurity and how it affects young people and businesses, Israel said it was unfair to portray the entire country as a war zone, stressing that the government is investing in security while Nigerians continue to build businesses and succeed.
“I think it is unfair to escalate the kidnapping and pretend the entire country is a war zone. Yes, there are serious issues, but to compare the enormity of our nation—with 36 states—these happen in specific pockets of areas. The government is doing a lot to fight insecurity, and the President continues to invest in security,” he stressed.
Addressing concerns over human rights violations and multidimensional poverty across Nigeria, including the 63% poverty rate cited by the World Bank, Israel highlighted government interventions such as TVET, NELFUND, CrediCorp, SMEDAN, NASENI and NITDA to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
“It calls for concern, but it also calls for appreciating that despite these figures, the government continues interventions every day. For example, we have the TVET program and NELFUND (Nigerian Education Loan Fund) introduced to help more young people stay in school and decrease university dropout rates. We must celebrate interventions like CrediCorp, SMEDAN supporting entrepreneurs and startups to get financing, NASENI, and NITDA ensuring digital literacy for young Nigerians to leverage the digital economy.
“In many states across Nigeria, especially those governed by APC governors, you will see infrastructure development and ecosystems that allow young people to thrive—such as over 15,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables being laid by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,” he highlighted.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, while insisting that the Tinubu administration means well and prioritises youth development, Israel urged young Nigerians to remain hopeful, likening the government’s efforts to laying the foundation for a brighter future.
“This administration means well and prioritizes young people’s development. What the President is doing right now is setting the foundation and building the structure for a brighter future for young Nigerians,” he concluded.
