Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for greater private sector participation in Nigeria’s energy sector, saying government alone cannot resolve the country’s persistent electricity crisis.
Obasanjo spoke at the Youth Governance Dialogue, themed “African Youth and Renaissance”, held at the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He said Nigeria should adopt the model used to transform the telecommunications industry by transferring greater responsibility to private operators, arguing that the country’s electricity challenges would persist without a fundamental change in approach.
“Government has tried, just like government tried with telecommunications, until we put it in the hands of the private sector, we didn’t solve it.
“And I believe that until we put energy in the hands of the private sector, we won’t solve it,” he said.
The former president described energy as a critical driver of economic growth and national development, lamenting that Nigeria had made insufficient progress in addressing its power challenges.
He, however, expressed optimism that young Nigerians with innovative business and technological ideas could contribute to resolving the crisis, urging them to turn their ideas into practical solutions.
Obasanjo also challenged young people seeking to influence governance and public policy to acquire the knowledge and competence required to engage government institutions meaningfully.
Speaking at the dialogue, a resource person, Oluwaseun Obasanjo, urged Nigerian youths to embrace innovation, technology and entrepreneurship as tools for addressing the country’s developmental challenges.
He said Nigeria’s large population and consumer market offered significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs, despite challenges such as inadequate electricity and infrastructure.
He challenged young Nigerians to develop homegrown solutions that could compete with foreign businesses seeking opportunities in the country’s growing market.
“The market in Nigeria is huge. And if foreign companies are coming in every day to take advantage of this market, what can you, as youth, do to be able to succeed in this same market?” he asked.
He encouraged young people to identify problems in their workplaces and communities and turn them into innovative solutions capable of generating economic value.
“Every problem we have is an opportunity to have innovation, not just in Nigeria, across Africa, because we have similar problems,” he said.
Oluwaseun also warned that young people who failed to embrace modern technology and artificial intelligence risked being left behind in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
“If you are not utilising technology, you will be left behind,” he cautioned.
He said although artificial intelligence could replace workers performing routine tasks, it could also improve productivity and business operations for those willing to adapt.
He urged young Nigerians to take advantage of free online learning resources, particularly YouTube, to acquire skills in marketing, software development, management and other professional fields.
Also speaking, a mentor at the programme, Dr Ayodele Aderinwale, called on young Nigerians to strengthen their participation in governance through evidence-based advocacy, institutional development and sustained engagement with political and civic structures.
Aderinwale said young people seeking to influence government policies must move beyond complaints and demonstrations by developing credible proposals backed by facts and data.
He said understanding government budgets and having reliable information about public service delivery were essential for effective civic engagement.
He advised young advocates seeking to influence state budgets to study allocations, particularly capital expenditure and personnel costs, as well as the differences between approved budgets and actual releases.
“If you want to influence a state budget, go and read the state budget. Know what share goes to capital spending, what share goes to salaries, how much was approved last year and how much was actually released,” he said.
He also urged youths interested in education policy to familiarise themselves with conditions in public schools, including teachers’ salaries, infrastructure and access to basic facilities.
“If you want to influence education policy, know what a teacher earns, how many schools in your local government have no functioning toilet and how many lack basic facilities,” he said.
According to him, young people must support their demands with verifiable facts, relevant data and practical alternatives rather than relying solely on emotional appeals.
“Have facts, have data. I say this as someone who has sat on both sides of the table. When a young person walks into a meeting with a complaint, officials listen very politely. But when a young person walks in with data, a costed alternative and a constituency behind it, officials start negotiation,” he stated.
Aderinwale identified political parties, professional associations, trade unions, cooperatives, religious organisations, chambers of commerce, alumni networks and companies as platforms through which young people could participate in organised and sustained governance.
He urged youths to become active members of established institutions rather than limiting their political participation to election campaigns and rallies.
“Join a political party, attend ward meetings, not only rallies. Join your residents’ association, join your professional body, join your trade association,” he advised.
He further stressed that organisational management skills, including conducting meetings, keeping minutes, accounting for funds and ensuring smooth leadership transitions, were essential for building sustainable institutions.
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