Young Nigerians possess strong leadership skills and ambition, but systemic obstacles continue to prevent them from taking up meaningful leadership roles across the country, a new report has stated.
The State of Youth Leadership in Nigeria 2025 Report, published by Column and AIESEC Nigeria, surveyed 120 young people across the country and found what it called “a generation brimming with leadership ambition, skills, and drive… but often hitting the same brick walls.”
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According to the document, 65 percent of respondents believe young Nigerians are not given enough space to lead, while 80 percent identified lack of funding and resources as their biggest obstacle. Another 76 percent said age-based stereotypes continue to shut them out of decision-making spaces.
The report captures a central contradiction: despite gaining significant leadership capacity youths say society still doubts their ability. As the authors put it, “Nigerian youth are ready to lead. The question is, will the system let them?”
More than half (53.78%) of those surveyed currently hold formal or informal leadership positions, and nearly 44 per cent have launched initiatives as a result of their leadership experiences. Yet public trust in youth leadership remains low, with only 17.5 percent of respondents rating youth leaders as “very effective.”
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The findings, the report says, should serve as both “a warning sign and an opportunity” for government, institutions, and private-sector actors. It cautions that failing to invest in youth leadership means “wasting a ready pool of talent,” while meaningful reforms could tap into “one of the most motivated, skilled, and socially-conscious demographics in the country.”
The authors called for targeted policies, funding structures, mentorship systems, and inclusive leadership frameworks to unlock the potential shown in the data.
