The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called for a shift in youth empowerment programmes from skills acquisition to broader economic participation through access to finance, markets, mentorship, technology and jobs.
The association said training alone would not deliver meaningful economic empowerment if young people lacked the resources and opportunities needed to apply their skills and build sustainable businesses.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 International Youth Day Summit organised by NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs (NYE), where business leaders and young entrepreneurs examined ways to leverage technology, heritage and policy for youth-led sustainable development.
Speaking on behalf of Jani Ibrahim, NACCIMA President, Prince Dapo Adelegan, chair of Strategic NACCIMA, said the summit was designed to translate high-level economic discussions into practical commercial opportunities for young business owners.
He said the programme was particularly important in helping young entrepreneurs take advantage of opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Adelegan said NACCIMA’s approach was anchored on three pillars, heritage and integrity, technology, and sustainability and governance.
He explained that Nigeria’s cultural heritage and local resources could serve as competitive advantages if properly integrated into enterprise development, while technology would enable young businesses to scale across borders.
“Technology, therefore, becomes a bridge that will allow youth and business to scale seamlessly across borders under Africa,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of sustainability, ethical business practices and sound corporate governance in ensuring that youth-led enterprises survive and contribute to long-term economic development.
Also speaking at the event, Sameera Abubakar Abdullahi, national secretary, NACCIMA Youth Empowerment, said Nigeria must move beyond conventional youth training programmes and focus on connecting skills to tangible economic opportunities.
She said young Nigerians require access to assets, finance, markets, jobs, mentorship, technology, business development support and international networks if they are to convert their capabilities into sustainable enterprises.
“For too long we have talked about training young people. Training is important, skill is important, but skill without access can become frustration,” Abdullahi said.
She explained that a young person might have the skills to establish a business but remain unable to do so without financing, while entrepreneurs with good products could struggle to grow without access to markets.
“A young entrepreneur may have a rich product but without access to market the business may never grow,” she said.
Abdullahi also identified mentorship, internships and practical experience as critical links between education and employment, particularly for young graduates entering the labour market.
She urged policymakers and private sector players to ask not only what skills young people possess but also what opportunities are available for them to deploy those skills.
The NACCIMA youth leader said government, the private sector and civil society must work together to create stronger pathways linking young entrepreneurs with investors, industries and markets.
“Governments cannot do it alone. The private sector cannot do it alone. Civil society cannot do it alone. Young people cannot do it alone. We need each other,” she said.
She called for stronger public-private partnerships to connect grassroots entrepreneurs with multinational institutions, training centres with industries, entrepreneurs with investors, and skills with jobs.
According to her, such linkages would help Nigeria move from youth entrepreneurial empowerment programmes to meaningful youth economic participation.
Abdullahi also advocated greater investment in mentorship, apprenticeship and internship programmes, arguing that young entrepreneurs need experienced business people who can guide them through practical challenges.
“Young people don’t only need someone to teach them, sometimes they need someone to walk with them,” she said.
The speakers also stressed the need to equip young Nigerians with capabilities suited to a rapidly changing global economy.
Abdullahi said emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital platforms and automation, were reshaping workplaces and business models, requiring young people to acquire digital skills, AI readiness, financial literacy, green economy skills and problem-solving capabilities.
Adelegan similarly said technology, export compliance, financing and business development would form key components of the summit’s masterclasses and discussions.
He said the programme would also provide platforms for young entrepreneurs to engage with potential financiers, including angel investors, and develop strategic partnerships.
The summit, themed “From Cultural Roots to Creation: Leveraging Technology, Heritage and Policy for Young-Led Sustainable Development,” also featured discussions on heritage, technology, sustainability and governance.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
