The Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation has urged young Africans to take up leadership roles now, saying the continent’s governance and economic future depends on their resilience and active participation.
This charge was made at the 4th Pan-African Leadership Conference and Awards in Lagos, organised by the Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation (PAYLEF) under the theme “Not Too Young to Lead.”
Delivering a keynote address, the Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Moyosore Adebanjo, urged participants to view failures as a necessary stepping stone to achievement rather than a reason to give up.
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Reflecting on his political trajectory, Adebanjo shared how he lost three elections before becoming victorious, emphasising that setbacks are an integral part of long-term success.
He stated that Africa’s transformation depends on proactive young people with creative mindsets to strengthen institutions, and take ownership of community welfare.
“Taking responsibility for leadership is not an immediate affair. I lost elections three times before I became who I am today. Failure in trying to achieve what you want is part of your success story,” he stated.
Honoured with an award at the event, Adebanjo affirmed that the recognition would deepen his commitment to youth empowerment initiatives.
The Group CEO of Browncon Group, Dr. Samuel Ndubuisi-Brown, advised the youths not to let social or economic hurdles define their direction in life.
Noting that difficulties exist globally, Ndubuisi-Brown stressed that emerging leaders must grant themselves the permission to succeed rather than waiting for external validation.
“In every part of the world, there’s always challenges, and this means that nobody will give you the licence to succeed except you. So, I urge you to go out there and bring change to your world and create impact,” he stressed.
The founder and Executive Director of Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation, Adebowale Salako, highlighted the necessity of dismantling the narratives that leadership belongs solely to older generations.
He urged young Africans, particularly in Nigeria, to engage directly in the democratic process by registering to vote and running for public offices.
“Leadership is not only for old people. I want to see the youths perform their civic responsibility by voting and aspire to be voted for. We shouldn’t wait for people to decide our future. Going forward, I want to see more young people in leadership in Africa especially in Nigeria,” he opined.
Other speakers and participants at the conference emphasised the need for professional excellence, continuous self-development, and active civic involvement as a prerequisite for sustainable growth across Africa.
The conference concluded with a League of Excellence Awards and an official induction of its 2026 cohort, celebrating outstanding individuals and organisations, innovations, corporate performance, and social progress, across the continent.
