By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, has tasked youths in the country to effectively participate in leadership, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

The former lawmaker, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State under the All Progressives Congress, APC platform in both the 8th and 9th National Assembly, insisted that the youths must begin to take a stand for their country by pursuing social change.

Peller,currently the Chairman, Board of Trustees and Founder of the Lead Generation Initiative,LGI, spoke on Friday in Abuja at the organisation’s press conference and partnership event.

Declaring his avowed commitment to the empowerment of youths in the country,
Peller reiterated his organization’s renewed vision to empower young Nigerians through strategic partnerships, leadership training, and access to justice.

“Today, we gather not only to celebrate our collective strides but also to forge a future of possibilities in empowering a new generation of Nigerians, to get involved in creative enterprises, public sector leadership, and access to justice, ” he said, recalling that on 21st January, 2020, the Lead Generation Initiative was established as a non-partisan and non-profit organization committed to creating opportunities for young people to channel their creativity, energy, and aspirations to add value to their immediate communities.

“According to MacroTrends, Nigeria’s population is projected to reach approximately 234.6 million as of July 2025, with about 70% under the age of 30, highlighting the critical need to harness this youthful demographic through education, empowerment, entrepreneurship, political inclusivity, and grassroots civic engagement for sustainable national development.

“To fulfill our mission of cultivating a new generation of socio-politically conscious leaders driving positive change in Nigeria, we have conducted the Get Involved Leadership Training programs across various states.

“These sessions have empowered numerous participants, including 420 individuals from Oyo State’s 33 Local Government Areas, 394 from Osun State, 254 from Bauchi State, 326 from Niger State, 227 from Kwara State, and 138 from Gombe State. We prioritize engaging like-minded members who have attained higher education and are gainfully employed.

“We partnered with the WE2GEDA Initiative to engage and hold the regional summits in all the six geopolitical zones, from Kano to Yola, Anambra to Uyo, Minna to Lagos.

“After months of internal evaluation, the Board and Management of the Lead Generation Initiative is delighted to announce a new phase of commitment to engage young Nigerians to become active citizens in their communities, ” he said.

Speaking further,he said:”To achieve the strategic objectives of this new phase, we are partnering with some organizations. A.Y.E for empowering young Nigerians, and Call a Lawyer as we push for access to justice in Nigeria.

“We have also restructured the regional leadership, and just yesterday at the LGI General Assembly, we have appointed twelve regional coordinators. Our goal is to ensure inclusivity, strengthen our community presence, and engage our members’ community for proactive community leadership.

“These critical actions are all geared towards our shared future, even as we unveil the LGI 2025 Strategic Roadmap, with the LGI Regional Leadership Summits at the core of it. The summit is designed to take place across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. “

According to him, “Mindful of the challenges our country faces today, the regional summits will provide a platform and opportunities for young people to stand up, stand firm, and own up the development process of our communities and country. “

He explained that the press conference was primarily to invite all the Nigerian youth, to take a stand for “your country, join us as we pursue social change, to get involved and be the change you aspire. “

He informed that his organisation shall also be having entrepreneurship support initiatives in partnership with the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E), that will empower “our members with startup supports to enable them become financially independent.”

” This is among other internal opportunities that we will be providing for our members, like virtually training sessions.

“Our partnership with Call A Lawyer NG aims to empower young Nigerians by removing legal barriers that impede their civic participation, business growth, and personal development. Together, we will enhance access to legal representation, educate citizens on their rights, and advocate for a fair legal system, “he further said.

On her part, African Young Entrepreneurs representative, Ms. Atuzie Favour, expressed her enthusiasm for the strides being made in entrepreneurship development across Nigeria and Africa.

“I’m excited to be part of this initiative. The development of Nigeria and Africa largely depends on youth empowerment and strategic planning. This is why we are committed to creating opportunities for African entrepreneurs, “she said.

She highlighted the robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that has grown to include over 25,000 entrepreneurs across 20 African countries, providing support, networking opportunities, and growth-oriented initiatives.

One of the flagship projects, she noted, is the Entrepreneurship Village,which is being developed in Akure.

“We like to think of it as the African Silicon Valley. When people hear ‘Akure,’ they might not immediately associate it with innovation, but this is part of the mindset we need to change. There is untapped human potential across every region in Nigeria and Africa, and we must refine our approach to development if we want to compete on the global stage,” she emphasized.

Ms. Atuzi also spoke about the Global Entrepreneurship Festival, an initiative within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“This is the largest entrepreneurship event of its kind, bringing together close to 20,000 entrepreneurs from around the world. It is an opportunity for learning, interaction, and celebrating innovation in business,” she said.

She further welcomed LGI’s participation in these initiatives, noting that the organization could play a key role in advancing the mission of African entrepreneurs.

“We hold our entrepreneurial assembly every Saturday and we have upcoming events, including the Global Entrepreneurship Festival and the Entrepreneurship Investment Program, which incorporates grants and support for new businesses,” she added.

Ms. Atuzi concluded by reaffirming her commitment to driving impactful entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Africa.

“We look forward to collaborating with LGI and other stakeholders to create better opportunities for entrepreneurs, ensuring that Africa plays a leading role in the global economy,” she said.