Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the former President of the African Development Bank, has emphasized that Nigeria and other African nations must not waste the potential of their young populations. He spoke at the inaugural Seyi Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos on Monday.
Adesina pointed out that issues like unemployment, poor education, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to finance are major barriers preventing young people from contributing to the economy. He argued that it is not the size of Africa’s population that is the problem, but rather the failure of systems to tap into this potential.
He stated, “Our young people are not the liability. Wasted potential is the liability.” Adesina explained that when young individuals cannot find jobs or when entrepreneurs lack funding for their ideas, the fault lies in the systems that restrict their opportunities.
According to Adesina, Africa is expected to make up about a quarter of the world’s population by 2050. He referred to this as a historic opportunity but cautioned that simply having more people will not lead to prosperity. He insisted that governments need to invest in education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship to build a skilled workforce that can compete globally.
He introduced the idea of a “Social Balance Sheet” to help assess whether countries are helping their people reach their potential or creating obstacles. Investments in education and healthcare build human assets, while unemployment and weak institutions create liabilities.
Adesina called on African leaders to ensure that the continent’s growing population can contribute positively to economic development. He urged young Africans to focus on their education and skills while seeking opportunities to turn their abilities into economic value.
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