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Today, I will sit as a judge at a student debate program. Young people from universities across the nation will come together to argue issues using the Canadian House of Commons style and rules. There will be structure, time limits, decorum, and clear expectations. Some will perform brilliantly. Others will struggle. But every single one of them is learning how democracy sounds, feels, and functions in real time.
As I prepared for the event, my mind wandered back a few years to when my son turned four. Like many children here, he was signed up for soccer, music, and basketball. These were not government programs. They were run by private clubs, community groups, and associations. There were uniforms, schedules, tournaments, referees, and rules. At that age, it looked like play. But in hindsight, it was something far more intentional.
These experiences are not unique to Canada. Schools everywhere have debates. Children everywhere play sports. But what I have noticed over time is that Canada treats these activities not just as extracurriculars, but as part of a national succession planning system.
From today’s list of student debaters, future politicians will emerge. They are not learning to speak publicly today. Many have been debating since secondary school. They have grown up within structured systems that encourage critical thinking, persuasion, and public service. There are pathways. There are mentors. There are institutions that recognize talent early and create opportunities for growth.
The same applies to sports. Many of Canada’s top athletes did not simply wake up talented one day. They were identified early, placed into programs, trained consistently, and exposed to competitive environments over many years. From community leagues to academies, from development leagues to professional ones, the system is designed to keep talent flowing.
This is why you can trace a clear line from grassroots sports to the national team. From local debate clubs to parliament. From youth leadership programs to senior public service roles. It is not accidental. It is deliberate.
Strong nations do not wait for talent to magically appear. They build systems that make talent inevitable.
This is where many developing nations, including Nigeria, must pause and reflect. We often celebrate exceptional individuals while ignoring the systems that produced them. We praise the gifted child who “made it” against all odds, rather than asking why so many others with potential never had a chance. We rely too heavily on raw talent showing up on its own.
That approach is not sustainable.
If systems are weak, only the exceptionally gifted or exceptionally lucky will rise. But when systems are strong, even average ability can be refined into excellence. Systems do not just reveal talent. They create it.
Without intentional grassroots structures, it becomes difficult to consistently produce future leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and innovators. You cannot build a nation’s future on hope alone. You cannot wait for the next superstar to appear without investing in the environment that allows many stars to emerge.
Grassroots development matters. Structured debate programs matter. Organized sports leagues matter. Arts education matters. Music programs matter. Leadership training matters. These are not luxuries. They are nation-building tools.
When systems exist, children learn discipline early. They learn teamwork. They learn resilience. They learn how to lose and how to improve. They learn that excellence is not accidental but cultivated over time. These lessons stay with them long after the game ends or the debate is over.
More importantly, systems create continuity. When one generation steps aside, another is ready. That is how countries avoid leadership gaps. That is how industries stay competitive. That is how innovation becomes consistent rather than sporadic.
Relying on talent alone is risky. Talent without structure often burns out. Talent without guidance gets misdirected. Talent without opportunity leaves. Systems, on the other hand, provide pathways. They allow people to grow at their own pace while maintaining standards and direction.
If we are serious about the future, we must be serious about building systems. Not just at the top, but at the base. In primary schools. In community centers. In local clubs. In universities. In industries.
We cannot keep asking where the next generation of leaders will come from while ignoring how previous generations were developed. We cannot expect excellence without investment. And we cannot build a strong nation without intentional succession planning.
As I take my seat today and listen to students debate with confidence, structure, and purpose, I am reminded of a simple truth. The future does not arrive by accident. It is prepared.
Nations that understand this do not gamble on talent. They build systems that allow talent to shine, grow, and multiply.
• Owodunni is City Councillor of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
