By Henry Obetta

*Says govt, private sector drive youth skills
By Henry Obetta

As the Federal Government intensifies its focus on youth education, skills development, and national reforms, Nigerian-born Canadian scholar and education advocate, Prof. Taiwo Afolabi, has reiterated that sustained investment in human capital remains the foundation for Nigeria’s long-term development and global competitiveness.
Afolabi, an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Regina, Canada, and Canada Research Chair in Socially Engaged Theatre at the university, said Nigeria’s current policy direction reinforces a principle he has consistently advocated through scholarship and philanthropy: that no nation can rise beyond the quality of its people.
Everywhere you see meaningful development across the world, there is massive investment in human development, research, and capacity building,” Afolabi said.
A globally recognised scholar whose work bridges art, research, and social justice, Afolabi noted that the right policy directions underscore the importance of complementary grassroots action.
In 2025, Afolabi was named a 3M National Teaching Fellow, Canada’s highest national recognition for teaching excellence. He has continued to advance theatre as a tool for human rights, equity, and social transformation across continents.
Beyond academia, Afolabi’s impact is visible through the Emissary (MS3) Foundation, a nonprofit he recently re-registered in Nigeria after years of informal, but consistent intervention in education and capacity-building initiatives.
For about five years, the foundation has supported access to education for underprivileged Nigerians, focusing on funding WAEC, NECO, and UTME entrance examinations, and paying tuition fees and supporting students through university. These programmes are executed through vetted partner organisations to ensure transparency and accountability.
Since its establishment, the foundation has supported over 30 individuals, investing more than ₦5 million in education across Nigeria; mostly funding entrance examinations (WAEC, NECO and UTME), and awarding scholarships and bursaries for students in high school and universities. Though modest in scale compared to government and large private-sector interventions, Afolabi insists the impact has been deeply transformative.
“Giving money alone is not enough. You have to teach people how to fish. That’s why education is at the centre of everything we do.
“Compared to larger foundations, we are very small, but the impact has been significant.
“I can tell you the kind of stories we hear—the kind of lives that change. Imagine what trillions of naira can do if sustained”, he said.
On the foundation’s broader vision, he said: “Our goal is to create space and empower young Nigerians—through philanthropy, but within the context of building capacity, professional development, education, research, and meeting practical needs.”
“Right now, we’re investing in building capacity. We hope that at some point we can invest more in infrastructure. But for now, our focus is clear: building people.”
The philosophy guiding Afolabi’s work is also articulated in his Excellence with a Soul book series. Proceeds from the series—currently comprising The Genesis and The Extraordinary—are channelled directly into education and capacity-building initiatives.
“Excellence is not just an ideal we aspire to reach; it is an intrinsic nature we choose to reveal. It is the DNA within us that must be manifested to the world,” Afolabi said.
The university don said the Emissary Foundation plans to scale its investments over the next two to three years, targeting around ₦10 million for education, capacity building, and other human development initiatives.
He said: “We’re also hoping to invest more in education research. There is a lot of research opportunity on the continent. Education is still the bedrock. If we get it right, everything else follows.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described education and youth empowerment as critical pillars of nation-building while addressing graduating students at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna over the weekend.
Delivering the convocation lecture titled ‘Youth and Nation Building: Navigating Opportunities in an Era of National Reforms’ at the institution’s 34th convocation ceremony in Niger State, Idris noted that Nigeria’s demographic profile presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
The Minister said: “With the right education, skilling, and preparation for the rapidly transforming workspaces of the 21st century, Nigeria will be an unstoppable global force.”