Nigeria's ambitious goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030 is firmly within reach, but achieving it depends entirely on how the nation prepares its massive youth population. This was the central message from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during a major youth-focused event in Abuja.
The Demographic Dividend: A Narrow Window of Opportunity
Speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the I Am Change (IAC) Organisation on Saturday, December 6, 2025, Minister Bagudu painted a picture of Nigeria's unique potential. He stated that the country's demographic trajectory places it among a select group with the capacity for extraordinary economic growth. However, he issued a stark warning: this golden opportunity will vanish if citizens fail to act with strategic urgency.
Bagudu highlighted a powerful statistic to underscore the scale of the moment. Over eight million births were recorded in Nigeria in the previous year alone, a figure that nearly matches China's annual population growth. This surge, he explained, positions Nigeria to become one of the world's foremost markets for labour, talent, and consumption within the coming decade.
"The choices we make today—pleasant or difficult—will determine whether we reach the $1 trillion milestone," Bagudu told the audience. He urged young Nigerians to see this population explosion not just as a number, but as a strategic opening demanding skills, discipline, innovation, and shared responsibility.
From Inspiration to Investment: A Call for Action
The Minister commended the IAC Organisation for its decade-long work in fostering civic consciousness and leadership among young people. He described such programmes as vital for moulding the citizens who will power Nigeria's economic ambitions.
On the government's part, Bagudu revealed a significant data-driven initiative currently underway. Authorities are mapping the drivers of poverty and conflict across all 8,809 wards in the country. This granular analysis, he said, is designed to boost local productivity and dismantle structural barriers that hinder national growth.
Concluding his address, the Minister placed the nation's economic future squarely in the hands of its youth. "Nigeria's economic future will be shaped by the hands, minds and courage of its youth," he insisted, adding that the next seven years must be defined by tough decisions, collective sacrifice, and bold national ambition.
IAC Warns Against Wasting a Generation
Earlier in the event, the Executive Director of IAC, Hafsatu Shinkafi, delivered a compelling welcome address. She cautioned that Nigeria risks "wasting an entire generation" if it continues to ignore the creativity and leadership potential of its young population.
Shinkafi recounted that IAC was founded in 2015 to address deep structural injustices facing youth, including unemployment, insecurity, failing education, and political exclusion. A decade later, she acknowledged these challenges persist, but the organisation's work has demonstrated that youth-led civic action can reshape national realities.
"Today is not just an anniversary; it is a decade of defying apathy and proving that Nigerian youth are not problems to manage but resources capable of rebuilding this nation," Shinkafi declared.
She pointed to the "Not Too Young to Run" law as concrete proof that sustained advocacy yields political results, noting IAC's key role in mobilising young voices and strengthening democratic participation. The organisation's initiatives, such as the Leadership and Mentoring Academy and the "It Starts With Me" civic-action project, have produced a network of young advocates and emerging leaders nationwide.
Addressing Minister Bagudu and other dignitaries directly, Shinkafi stressed the need for a decisive shift. "We are not training the next generation for tomorrow," she asserted. "We are training them to build Nigeria now. Because the future will not wait."
