Obasanjo Challenges African Youth to Seize Leadership Role Today, Not Wait for Tomorrow

Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly emphasized the immediate necessity for Africa’s massive youth population to assume leadership roles across the continent, asserting that young people must recognize they are no longer merely the leaders of tomorrow, but critically, the leaders of today. He urged the youth to positively leverage their large numbers to bring about the long-awaited and necessary transformation across Africa’s political and economic landscapes.

Dependable NG reports that the former President made these compelling remarks on Monday during the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat. The event, themed “Africa and the Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East,” was organized by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and attracted participants from both Nigeria and other African countries.

Addressing the assembled youth, Obasanjo issued a stark warning regarding the perils of complacency, stating: “You are leaders of today because if you leave tomorrow in the hands of leaders who are there today, they will destroy it; you won’t have your tomorrow.” He pointed to the prevalence of aged leadership across the continent as a key example of the need for change, noting: “You can see that happening almost everywhere. Cameroon just had an election. My brother, Paul Biya, is 92. So, what are you going to do with the youths, or are there no youths in Cameroon?” His statement serves as a direct challenge to the youth to stop waiting for power to be handed over and to actively pursue leadership positions now.

The event also featured the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), who offered a strategic perspective on the nation’s insecurity challenges. Gen. Agwai remarked that United States President Donald Trump’s recent “guns-a-blazing” threat regarding an alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria should be viewed as a serious wake-up call. He argued that the threat should compel Nigeria’s leaders to significantly intensify and improve their efforts against the persistent insecurity plaguing the nation. It will be recalled that Trump had recently threatened possible military intervention in Nigeria, declaring he had directed the Pentagon to prepare “possible action” if the Nigerian government failed to curb the killings, warning of aid suspension and a potential forceful attack. The convergence of Obasanjo’s call for youth leadership and Gen. Agwai’s warning about the consequences of governmental failure underscores the urgency of change and stability in Nigeria and Africa.