Experts and youth development advocates have called for urgent and sustained investment in Nigerian teenagers, stressing that the country’s future stability, innovation, and leadership capacity depend on how well young people are prepared today.
The call was made at the Leadership training Booth Camp for teenagers held in Lagos, South West Nigeria where facilitators and participants emphasised the need to equip adolescents with confidence, communication skills, and a strong sense of civic responsibility to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
Speaking at the boot camp, a tech consultant at KPMG, Ammar Jibril, discussed the topic: Academic Leadership and Public Speaking by encouraging early exposure to leadership training, which he said was critical to building a generation capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving social, economic, and governance challenges.
He noted that many teenagers lack confidence in public speaking and leadership roles, warning that such gaps, if not addressed early, could weaken the country’s future human capital base.
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“The reason why we did it is to ignite that passion in them and prepare them for the future,” he said, adding that leadership development should be treated as a national priority rather than an occasional intervention.
Jubril described public speaking as a vital national skill that goes beyond communication, urging young people to combine confidence with discipline, ethical conduct, and a strong sense of responsibility in their engagement with society.
He further cautioned that future leaders would be required to navigate complex national issues and should therefore be equipped to speak truthfully, responsibly, and courageously in the face of opposition or criticism.The facilitator also called for continuity in youth development programmes, urging organisers and stakeholders not to treat such initiatives as one-off events but to institutionalise them as annual or recurring platforms for capacity building.
He advocated for stronger integration of public speaking and leadership training into school curricula, recommending practical sessions such as debates, presentations, and peer engagement to strengthen students’ communication abilities.
“Most schools should adopt practical sessions to train future public speakers,” he said.
Another Youth leader, Mr Ridwanullah AbdulLateef, stressed the importance of giving young people the right foundation early in life, noting that the values and knowledge instilled in teenagers today would ultimately influence the kind of adults and leaders they become.
He said programmes that bring young people together for learning, mentorship and character development should be encouraged because they provide an avenue for teenagers to build confidence, strengthen their values and develop the capacity to contribute positively to society.
Several teenagers said the training helped them better understand how to balance personal values with societal expectations, while also improving their ability to express themselves in diverse environments.
Others noted that the experience strengthened their resilience in navigating peer pressure, social media influence, and identity challenges, particularly in multicultural and multi-religious settings.
A 12-year-old participant, Sultan Lawal, highlighted the importance of resisting negative peer influence, warning that lack of confidence among young people could make them vulnerable to harmful behaviours.
Another participant, Azmat Kolapo-Agarau said the programme helped him learn how to confidently and respectfully articulate his beliefs in environments where his views may differ from those of others.
Concerns were also raised about the growing influence of social media on young Nigerians, with participants warning that unrealistic lifestyle and beauty standards could negatively affect self-esteem and values.
A female participant, Haamidah Sadiq, urged young people to embrace their identity and values, noting that self-respect and discipline are essential for long-term personal and national development.
Organisers of the programme linked youth empowerment to broader national cohesion and development, stressing that building confident, value-driven teenagers is essential for reducing social fragmentation and strengthening community ties.
The chair person planning committee of the event, Mr AbdusSobur Musa said the initiative was designed to help young people develop a strong sense of identity and unity, while resisting pressures that may discourage them from openly embracing their values.
He also called on parents to play a more active role in shaping their children’s moral and civic development, describing the home as the foundation of responsible citizenship.
The boot camp featured sessions on leadership, chastity, parenting, and responsible social media use, with speakers emphasising that moral and civic education must begin early and be consistently reinforced.
Participants and facilitators alike called for greater support from government, private sector actors, and community stakeholders for youth-focused programmes, describing them as essential investments in Nigeria’s long-term stability and development.
As for a mechatronics engineering student who also participated in the event, Kaarimah Karam, the leadership training served not just as a learning experience but as a reminder that national leadership begins with personal development, discipline, and the courage to use one’s voice constructively.
