Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu delivered the inaugural Distinguished Lecture Series at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, emphasizing that Nigeria’s youth population is its most crucial asset for achieving global influence.
Speaking on the theme, “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power,” the Governor noted that with an estimated 100 million people under the age of 20, Nigeria has one of the world’s largest youth populations.
He stated that this “extraordinary asset” could propel Nigeria to a position of global economic influence if properly harnessed.
Addressing an audience of academics, industry leaders, and policymakers, Sanwo-Olu explained that the concept of a world power is dynamic, now encompassing economic, technological, cultural, and demographic strength, not just military might.
He highlighted that Nigeria’s democratic journey since the end of the 20th century has paved the way for creative and economic growth, attracting global attention in fields from music and film to sports and literature.
The Governor urged the nation to focus on maximizing its talent to excel in areas where it currently lags, such as cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
He also expressed confidence that the current administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates, are setting the country on the right path to achieve its ambitious goal of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Sanwo-Olu asserted that the future of Nigeria’s economic competitiveness is inextricably linked to Lagos’s strength, describing the state as the nation’s “laboratory for growth and innovation.”
He said Lagos’s role as an economic powerhouse has been crucial to Nigeria’s rise as a regional leader, and that the state’s success can be leveraged to unleash the collective national potential.
He also accepted the NIIA’s request to endow a Foreign Policy School at the institute.
The Governor concluded by stressing the need for Nigerians to maintain an unwavering belief in their nation’s greatness and to learn from past mistakes without being held back by them.
In her remarks, Dr. Dere Awosika, the lecture’s chairperson, described the event as a “historic moment,” praising Sanwo-Olu as a “techno-politician” whose diverse experience is a clear example of how Nigeria should pursue global leadership.
NIIA Director-General Prof. Eghosa Osaghae noted that Sanwo-Olu was the first serving governor to deliver the institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series in its 64-year history.
He credited successive Lagos leaders for the state’s growth, which he said has surpassed Johannesburg as Africa’s foremost economic capital.
