Lagos Commissioner Dayo Alebiosu urges Nigerian youths to drive national development through education, skills
Dayo Alebiosu Urges Youths to Drive Nigeria’s Development
Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, has challenged Nigerian leaders to rethink youth development, urging them to empower young people as active participants in nation-building rather than mere beneficiaries of government policies.
Alebiosu, a former member of the House of Representatives popularly known as D’ Bush, said Nigeria must create an environment where young people can develop their talents, establish businesses, drive innovation and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
In an interview with Daily Sun, the commissioner said the country’s large youthful population represented a significant opportunity for national development, provided there was deliberate investment in education, skills acquisition and access to economic opportunities.
“We must challenge our young people to see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of Nigeria’s future, but as its builders,” he stated.
Alebiosu urged governments and other stakeholders to encourage young Nigerians to become “problem-solvers, innovators, entrepreneurs and creators of opportunities,” rather than focusing solely on the country’s challenges.
The politician, who represented Kosofe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, said young people should move beyond identifying Nigeria’s problems to exploring practical ways of addressing them.
According to him, quality education, relevant skills and opportunities to establish businesses are essential to helping young Nigerians realise their potential and contribute to sustainable national development.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 66 years of independence, Alebiosu noted that the country had recorded progress in several sectors, including education, telecommunications, financial services, transportation and infrastructure.
He observed that digital technology had transformed the way Nigerians communicate, learn, work and conduct business, creating opportunities that were largely unavailable to previous generations.
However, the Lagos commissioner maintained that significant challenges remained, particularly in expanding access to quality education and ensuring that the benefits of development reached more Nigerians.
He called for greater attention to children and people with special needs, stressing that every child should have the opportunity to discover their abilities, acquire relevant skills and make meaningful contributions to society.
Alebiosu warned that Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development by neglecting any segment of its population, adding that inclusive policies and equal access to opportunities were essential to building a stronger nation.
On leadership, the commissioner argued that public office should be viewed as an opportunity to serve, solve problems and strengthen institutions rather than an end in itself.
“Leadership should be measured by the institutions we build, the problems we solve and the opportunities we create for the people,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of effective oversight, strong institutions and consistent policy implementation, noting that legislation alone could not transform society without a genuine commitment to execution.
Alebiosu called on Nigerians to recognise their shared responsibility for the country’s future, stressing that national development required contributions from government, the private sector, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens.
“The future of this country cannot be left entirely to government. Every Nigerian has a role to play,” he said.
