Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has challenged Nigerian youths to develop character, competence and commitment to noble causes.
He said Nigeria needs young people who are prepared to take responsibility and provide leadership in different sectors.
Olawande spoke yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), where over 600 young Nigerians were brought together by Rotary International District 9127 for leadership development under the theme, “Transforming Talents into Impact.”
The minister said leadership should not be postponed until young people attained political office or senior positions, stressing that leadership begins with the choices and responsibilities individuals accept in their everyday lives.
“Leadership is not about titles. Leadership is not about appointments. Leadership does not start only when you become a minister. Leadership does not start when you become a governor or a president,” he said.
“Leadership starts with responsibility. It starts with all of us as we are sitting down here. Don’t think it is when you are old that you become a leader.”
Olawande said effective leadership was rooted in service and character, urging the participants to begin building the qualities required for responsible leadership from an early age.
“Leadership is about service. It is about service. Nothing but service. But how can you build that service? It is with character,” he said.
“Character is key in whatever you are doing. Build competence from now.”
He said young Nigerians should not allow difficult backgrounds or past experiences to limit their ambitions, sharing aspects of his own journey to demonstrate that perseverance and hard work could help individuals overcome challenges.
“I have explained to people, times without number, especially young people, that you can be whatever you want to become if you are hardworking and you believe,” the Minister said.
“Before you get to the top, a lot of things have happened. But people only see the minister part. They don’t see what you have passed through.”
The Minister urged the participants to acquire practical skills and continuously improve themselves, noting that academic qualifications alone were no longer sufficient in a rapidly changing world.
“A university degree is important, but please, the world is changing. A degree alone cannot strengthen you enough,” he said.
