Haske: Nigeria risks losing another generation without investment in youths

Abdulrahman Haske, a businessman and former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Adamawa, has warned that Nigeria risks losing another generation to poverty, insecurity and lack of opportunities without deliberate investment in young people.

Haske made this known at a dinner lecture organised to commemorate International Youth Day 2026 by the office of the adviser to the Adamawa governor on youth empowerment, in collaboration with the Adamawa government, at the Government House in Yola.

Speaking on the sub-theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, Haske said young Nigerians, despite their different circumstances, share common aspirations for quality education, decent jobs, security, entrepreneurship opportunities and meaningful participation in governance.

He described Nigeria’s youthful population as one of the country’s greatest assets, but said unlocking its potential required deliberate investment in education, skills, technology, access to capital and leadership opportunities.

‘NORTH-EAST YOUTH FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES’

Haske said conflict, poverty, displacement and limited economic opportunities continued to undermine youth development in the north-east.

He cited data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicating that about 2.8 million children across Adamawa, Borno and Yobe require education-in-emergencies support.

He added that hundreds of schools remain closed, while many classrooms have been damaged or destroyed by conflict and insecurity.

“For Adamawa, these are not just statistics. These are our communities, our children and our future workforce,” he said.

“While significant efforts have been made, we must be honest that more needs to be done to ensure that every young person can learn, grow and contribute meaningfully to society.”

Haske said the education crisis extended beyond classrooms, affecting employability, entrepreneurship, innovation and long-term economic growth.

The entrepreneur said youth empowerment should translate into practical opportunities, including quality education, digital and technical skills, mentorship, access to capital, technology and markets.

“Young people need more than slogans about empowerment. We must create conditions where businesses can grow, innovation can thrive and jobs can be created at scale,” he said.

Haske called for a comprehensive youth agenda for the north-east that would link education to skills acquisition, skills to employment and entrepreneurship to markets.

He also advocated the rebuilding of damaged learning infrastructure and uninterrupted access to education as critical components of sustainable development.

On governance, Haske urged greater inclusion of young people in leadership and decision-making processes.

He said youths should not be mobilised only during election periods but should be given opportunities to contribute ideas and take up leadership responsibilities.

“Politics must become a platform for service, innovation and problem-solving,” he said.

Haske said the challenges facing young Nigerians might differ, but their aspirations remained largely the same.

According to him, such investments would help reduce poverty and unemployment while enabling young people to become drivers of development.