Stakeholders have urged Nigeria to harness the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial potential of its youthful population to accelerate economic growth and national development.
They spoke on Thursday at the IDCL Global Conference ’26 in Abuja, where they also called for improvements in electricity supply, reforms in the justice system and greater investment in an environment that enables young Nigerians to create businesses and employment opportunities.
The conference, themed, ‘A New Nigeria,’ brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, development experts, youth advocates and other stakeholders to discuss economic growth, innovation, governance and national development.
Speaking at the event, the Convener of the Made in Abuja Creative and Entertainment Industry Conference and Award, Gabriel Obochi, said Nigeria must create an enabling environment for young people to turn their ideas into viable enterprises.
Obochi said exposure to productive and innovative people could encourage more young Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and creativity.
‘The environment inspires a whole lot of innovation and creativity. When you come into the midst of people who create, who produce, who virtually create anything, it inspires you to start creating or wanting to go into creating as well,’ he said.
He also urged young entrepreneurs not to be discouraged by business failures and other setbacks, saying risk remained an unavoidable part of entrepreneurship.
‘Everything in life is a risk. If you are pulled down by it, you will never get to achieve anything,’ he said.
According to him, successful entrepreneurs are often those who remain focused despite losses and build businesses capable of surviving difficult economic conditions.
Obochi also identified inadequate electricity supply as a major constraint to businesses and called for further liberalisation of the power sector to allow more players to participate in electricity generation.
‘The power sector should be democratised and allow some other smaller companies or ventures to also generate power. That is the only thing that will help us stabilise the power problem and electricity generation in Nigeria,’ he said.
Earlier, the Convener of the IDCL Global Conference ’26, Oluwakemi Olorode, said the gathering was aimed at encouraging Nigerians to play active roles in changing the country’s development trajectory.
‘It’s A New Nigeria. That’s the topic, where Nigerians, as individuals and collectively, are making an impact and changing the narrative,’ she said.
Olorode said the conference provided a platform for business owners, professionals and young people to exchange ideas, establish partnerships and explore solutions to some of the country’s development challenges.
‘So, it’s not a one-person narrative. It’s a narrative for everybody,’ she added.
She also identified electricity supply as an area requiring greater attention, saying businesses and households continued to struggle with inadequate power.
‘We still don’t have 24-hour electricity, even with Band A. We are still pleading with the government to help us make sure that Nigeria is thriving and becomes a success story,’ Olorode said.
Speaking during a panel session, the Executive Director of the Private and Public Development Centre, Mrs Lucy Abagi James, called for greater emphasis on implementing existing policies rather than developing new frameworks.
Abagi, who focused on reforms in the justice sector, said the digitisation of courts would improve efficiency and access to justice.
‘There are already policies. There is no need for another policy framework again. We need to advocate more for judges to be able to digitise their courts,’ she said.
She also urged Nigerians to become more knowledgeable about their legal rights, including the right to legal representation and speedy trial.
According to her, weaknesses within public institutions contribute significantly to corruption and inefficiency in the justice system.
‘One of the problems we are having with corruption is system failure,’ she said.
Abagi said increased digitisation of court processes, alongside stronger public advocacy and awareness, could improve access to justice and strengthen accountability.
Also speaking, development advocate Aisha Sabo said Nigeria’s human capital and the capacity of its people to develop solutions should be regarded as more important to the country’s future than its natural resources.
‘I don’t even believe that minerals are our greatest asset. Our greatest asset and resource is actually our imagination,’ she said.
Sabo urged young Nigerians to think beyond existing limitations and explore innovative solutions to development challenges.
Citing Rwanda’s deployment of drone technology to deliver medical supplies, she said countries could overcome infrastructure and geographical challenges by embracing innovation.
‘The landscape didn’t change, but the way people imagined it did,’ she said.
She said Africa’s youthful population presented a major development opportunity, but stressed that the potential would have to be properly harnessed through skills, innovation and opportunities.
Financial market trader and public speaker, Paschalene Chiemela, similarly urged young Nigerians to develop skills and create opportunities rather than depend solely on government interventions.
‘It doesn’t always have to revolve around the government or policies. It can start with us,’ she said.
Chiemela said young people should develop valuable skills and build credible personal brands to improve their prospects in an increasingly competitive economy.
‘I know the general saying is, ‘There’s no job.’ But what can you do? Build a brand. What can you offer?’ she asked.
She said creating value, developing relevant skills and looking beyond immediate challenges would help more young Nigerians take advantage of emerging economic opportunities.