By Abdullahii Danbakaba
Nigeria’s youthful population remains a powerful catalyst for nation building and innovation, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr, has said.
Delivering the 34th Convocation Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, titled ” Youth and Nation – Building: Navigating Opportunities in Era of National Reforms,” on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the University Auditorium, Main Campus, dris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing national reforms including subsidy removal, FX unification, new tax laws, and youth focused initiatives such as NELFUND, 3MTT, and the Nigeria Startup Act are creating new opportunities for young Nigerians.
He described artificial intelligence and digital skills as critical tools youths must embrace for professional growth, economic development, and national progress, urging graduates to be proactive, innovative, and engaged with government programmes.
Idris noted that Nigeria’s youthful population, combined with the reform agenda, positions the country for sustainable growth, investor confidence, and long-term development, stressing that nation-building goes beyond infrastructure to include shared values, inclusion, and collective responsibility.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the event Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, expressed appreciation to the Guest Lecturer, describing the lecture as timely and relevant, and urged participants to actively engage in the discourse.
The convocation lecture provided valuable insights into youth empowerment and national development, offering a platform for dialogue on navigating Nigeria’s evolving socio-economic landscape.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of a plaque to the Guest Lecturer by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faruk Adamu Kuta as well as goodwill presentations by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) and the National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS).
Photo Credit Elijah Yisa
