Obasa Canvasses Stronger Public-Private Capital Alignment To Unlock Youth Potential
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called for stronger alignment between public policies and private-sector investment to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s youth population.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the inaugural Seyi Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos on Monday, Obasa said youth inclusion was no longer a political favour but an economic necessity, stressing that the country could not afford to relegate young people to the background.
He described the theme of the colloquium, Shaping the Future Together, as both an intellectual blueprint and an urgent governance directive, noting that Nigeria could not build a sustainable and prosperous future without involving young people in decision-making.
Obasa said political leaders had for too long told young people they were the leaders of tomorrow, arguing that the time had come to move beyond rhetoric and give them meaningful opportunities to contribute to national development.
He challenged captains of industry, policymakers, technology entrepreneurs and media executives to see young Nigerians not merely as consumers but as partners in innovation and enterprise, noting that government alone could not drive national transformation.
The Speaker urged the private sector to go beyond conventional corporate social responsibility initiatives by investing in early-stage businesses, structured mentorship programmes and innovation hubs. He added that supportive public policies were essential to ensuring such investments achieved sustainable impact.
Highlighting the Lagos State House of Assembly’s efforts to promote economic growth, Obasa said the legislature had supported initiatives aimed at expanding digital literacy, strengthening technology hubs and creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs.
He cited the Lagos State Wealth Fund and ongoing efforts on the Lagos Innovation Bill as examples of policy frameworks designed to complement private investment and promote innovation.
Obasa commended the convener, Seyi Tinubu, for establishing the colloquium as a platform for intergenerational engagement, adding that its success would ultimately depend on tangible outcomes rather than speeches, particularly its ability to foster strategic partnerships between government and the private sector.
