At the 16th Lagos Ikeja City Award at LCCI Ikeja Alausa on Saturday, 24 May, 2025, a guest Speaker Otunba Segun Adewale delivered a lecture aimed at rekindling hope in Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of youth participation in politics and governance urging young people to be determined and actively engage in the system.

During a press interaction at the event, Otunba Segun Adewale referenced the administration of former Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida to illustrate his point that Nigerians should remain hopeful and optimistic about the current administration’s prospects.

Otunba Segun Adewale

Otunba Segun Adewale recalled that when Babangida assumed power from Buhari, the economy was in shambles, leading to the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Program with Olu Falae at the helm. He noted that while it took about 8 years for the situation to normalize, tangible progress became apparent after just 2 years.

Otunba Segun Adewale expressed optimism that the current administration would get on track, despite its initial shortcomings. He noted that it’s becoming clear that sending students abroad for scholarships might not be the best use of funds, and that patience would be required to see meaningful progress.

According to Otunba Segun Adewale, the government has concrete economic policies in the pipeline that will streamline the economy over the next two years. With a focus on reelection, he predicts a significant economic boost, driven by targeted fiscal policies that will steer the economy in the right direction.

There are going to be tangible economy policies that are going to streamline the economy going into the next two years. This government wants to go back for reelection and I can assure you that in the next two years, we should expect the economy to bounce, and expect fiscal policies that will drive this economy towards the right direction.

Otunba Segun Adewale identified social media as a key factor distorting Nigerian youths’ priorities, with many seeking wealth online rather than pursuing tangible development. He advised youths to view governance as essential to their growth and encouraged them to be determined in their pursuit of participation, assuring that their involvement would be achievable.