…Inspired by Kahlil Gibran’s poem (1883–1931), Youth and Age
In Youth and Age, Gibran evokes youth as a flower, vibrant but vulnerable, and age as fruit, ripened and rich with meaning. Nigeria’s youth population stands at that crucial crossroads. With almost 60 percent of citizens under 30, the country has a chance to transform this youthful rush into stabilised, productive maturity. Yet the harvest depends not on numbers alone, but on whether education, opportunity, and institutions enable that flower to bear fruit.
A youth surge: Promise and caution
Nigeria’s population in 2025 tops 230 million and may reach 400 million by 2050, with nearly 42 percent under 15. This demographic potential can fuel economic growth if, and only if, young people are educated, healthy, and employable. Yet:
Youth unemployment is over 33 percent, with many underemployed; true idle rates may approach 50 percent.
In the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, Nigeria ranks 151st of 157 countries, highlighting gaps in learning outcomes and productivity.
Without systemic reform, this potential turns into pressure, fast. The youth might energise innovation or fuel instability.
From longing to strategy
Gibran’s flower yearns, but age brings steady presence. Nigerian youth today brim with ambition but must channel it through discipline, resilience, and strategic action.
Individual effort is vital but incomplete without systemic reform. Education must not only enrol but also equip, teaching adaptability and problem-solving, not just exams.
Real-world ripeness: Case studies in youth empowerment
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)
A standout example, TEF, since its launch in 2015, has supported over 21,000 entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, offering $5,000 seed capital, mentorship, training, and networking. Their digital hub, TEFConnect, has trained 2.5 million young Africans. Collectively, beneficiaries have created 1.5 million jobs and generated over $4.2 billion in revenue.
Through a UNDP partnership, TEF also aims to empower 100,000 young entrepreneurs across the Sahel region with the same model.
“Individual effort is vital but incomplete without systemic reform. Education must not only enrol but also equip, teaching adaptability and problem-solving, not just exams.”
These structured, scalable interventions demonstrate how flowers, if given resources and guidance, can bear fruit that nourishes communities and markets.
Mamamoni: Social enterprise in slum communities
Founded by Nkem Okocha, Mamamoni empowers rural and slum-based women through vocational training and microloans. Since 2013, it has supported over 4,000 women with more than 100 loans, enabling small enterprises in underserved areas.
This is a tangible example of grassroots empowerment, especially for young women often excluded from formal opportunities.
Inclusive inspiration: Swim in 1 Day (SID)
In Lagos, Emeka Chuks Nnadi runs a nonprofit offering lifesaving swimming lessons to disabled children. Serving over 400 visually impaired students, SID builds confidence and physical skill and sends a message: inclusion itself is an economy of the future.
This shows how youth-led initiatives can address both social and developmental gaps.
GiveBack Group: Volunteer-powered education and civic impact
Founded by Lanre Yusuf, a seasoned professional with over 15 years’ experience in education, strategic programme execution, civic engagement, and community-driven development, the GiveBack Group exemplifies how grassroots mobilisation can translate youthful energy into lasting social dividends.
What began in 2015–2016 as a volunteer educator network in Lagos Mainland and Ayobo, bridging learning gaps in low-income public schools, has evolved into a nationwide movement active in 23 states, reaching tens of thousands of children and youth. Their initiatives blend education, health, and civic engagement with a strong emphasis on local ownership: tailors sew masks, carpenters build learning furniture, and traders supply teaching materials.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, when millions of children were cut off from formal learning, GiveBack launched the Street School Initiative, deploying open-air learning hubs and distributing learning packs to riverine and remote communities. In partnership with global allies like Books for Africa and the Child-to-Child Book Foundation, they delivered over 40,000 boxes of books nationwide, seeding reading hubs from Ilaje in Ondo State to IDP camps in Adamawa.
GiveBack Group’s model is volunteer-driven but system-aligned, working with state education boards, private sector CSR, and international NGOs to scale impact. Its success demonstrates that when youth are mobilised with purpose, provided with structured support, and embedded in community networks, they can bridge the gap between flower and fruit, transforming potential into measurable change across education, health, and civic life.
Mental health access: Community programmes in Benue
In Benue State, a Comprehensive Community Mental Health Programme demonstrates how integrating mental health into primary care can support youth in conflict-affected areas, a critical supplement to education and livelihood planning.
Such support systems help sustain resilience and productivity, especially in insecure zones.
Constructive pathways: Practical guidance
To translate population pressure into advantage, here’s an expanded blueprint for Nigeria’s youth:
Master foundational literacies, then specialise: If formal schooling is disrupted, use open tools, community hubs, or online platforms. Proficiency trumps certification.
Adopt a T-shaped profile: You should blend your discipline (e.g., arts, agriculture, sciences) with one complementary skill like digital literacy, solar maintenance, caregiving, or bookkeeping to stay adaptable.
Treat school as a project lab: Deliver tangible artefacts each semester (apps, small businesses, reports) to build a visible portfolio.
Start micro-ventures: Begin with simple enterprises like food prep, tutoring, and phone repair, and track finances rigorously. If it won’t fit on a one-page ledger, scale back.
Target compounding sectors: Green energy, agribusiness, healthcare support, construction, and digital services, especially those with multiplier potential like startups supported by TEF or Mamamoni.
Build safety in pods: Partner with 3–5 peers to share resources, transport, data, and accountability, especially essential amid insecurity.
Stack short credentials: Obtain recognised short courses in project management, welding, coding, TEFL, TESOL or CIE to unlock apprenticeships and income quickly.
Cultivate the three-pronged language fluency: Learn English, a local language, and a technical language (e.g., CAD, agricultural standards) for an edge in local and global markets.
Document and share your journey: A visual portfolio of problem → solution → impact travels further than CV fluff.
Demand relevant public goods: Lobby for secure schools, TVET labs, stipend-supported apprenticeships, micro-tool libraries, and paid internships with credentials.
Systemic strengthening: Beyond individual agency
Individual action must be paired with institutional reform:
Improve school quality, not just access: Nigeria must invest in learning outcomes, not merely enrolment.
Elevate TVET and apprenticeships: Modern labs, certified trainers, and public-private apprenticeships are long-term multipliers.
Scale successful philanthropic models: Expand TEF-style programming through public-private partnerships.
Strengthen mental health and support infrastructure: Community programmes like Benue’s must be replicated nationally.
Promote civic engagement: Youth must join governance, advocacy, and accountability platforms; only then can the system evolve.
Ensure gender-inclusive support: Close dropout gaps and institutionalise support for girls (e.g., cash transfers, mentorship).
From winter to renewal
Gibran reminds us that winter undresses the old for rebirth in spring. Nigeria’s youth season is loud with energy, but ripening requires patience, guidance, and ecosystems that nourish.
When the flower blooms with intent and opportunity, fruit follows. With 238 million citizens watching, it is not enough to hope; action must ensure that today’s learners become tomorrow’s leaders, creators, healers, and innovators.
The harvest depends on all of us.
