NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs, NEXUS Convene 2nd International Youth Day Summit in Abuja

The National Coordinator of NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs, Amb. Dr. Sameera Abdullahi Abubakar, has called for increased investment in Nigerian youths, urging stakeholders to move beyond skills training and provide young people with access to finance, markets, mentorship, technology and sustainable business opportunities.

Abubakar made the call while delivering the opening address at the Second Edition of the International Youth Day Summit 2026, organised by NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs in partnership with NEXUS in Abuja.

The two-day summit, holding from August 26 to 27, 2026, is themed: “From Cultural Roots to Green Shoots: Leveraging Technology, Heritage and Policy for Youth-Led Sustainable Development.”

The event brought together young entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers, professionals, creatives and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening youth participation in Nigeria’s economic development.

Abubakar described the summit as more than a gathering, saying it represents “a statement of our belief in the Nigerian youth.”

She said young Nigerians should be regarded not as beneficiaries of development but as partners and stakeholders capable of driving economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.

«“We are not asking to be spectators in the Nigerian economy. We are ready to be partners in building Nigeria,” she said.»

According to her, training and skills acquisition alone are insufficient to guarantee success, noting that young people also need access to finance, markets, mentorship, technology, internships, apprenticeships and business-development opportunities.

She urged stakeholders to shift from asking what skills young people possess to asking what opportunities are available to connect those skills to productive ventures.

Abubakar further stressed the need to prepare Nigerian youths for emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital technology, entrepreneurship and the green economy.

She said young Nigerians require critical thinking, AI readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital competence, creativity and problem-solving skills to remain competitive in the changing global economy.

Delivering a keynote address Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, advocates stronger policies and partnerships to create economic opportunities for young Nigerians.

Gbadamosi called for greater regional economic cooperation and urged African countries to make it easier for young entrepreneurs to participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She noted that technology, entrepreneurship and the creative industries could provide significant opportunities for young Africans to expand their businesses and participate in the continental economy.

Gbadamosi also called for stronger collaboration across African countries, saying young people should be supported to build businesses, establish partnerships and access markets beyond their national borders.

The National President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, was represented at the event by Chief Dapo Adelega, who delivered remarks on behalf of the NACCIMA President.

The representation reaffirmed NACCIMA’s commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship, private-sector development and greater economic participation by young Nigerians.

The summit provides a platform for discussions on technology, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, policy, green growth and sustainable development, while encouraging strategic partnerships to support youth-led businesses.

The organisers emphasised the need to harness Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage alongside technology and innovation to create sustainable economic opportunities for the younger generation.

The summit is expected to strengthen networking, knowledge-sharing and partnerships while promoting practical solutions that will enable young people to transform their ideas into enterprises, their skills into careers and their innovations into solutions.

Abubakar called on stakeholders to move from conversation to action, urging them to listen to young people, invest in their potential and create platforms for them to lead.

“The future of Nigeria is not something we should simply talk about. The future is here and it is young,” she said.