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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria’s electricity crisis will remain unresolved until the private sector takes a leading role in managing the country’s energy sector.
Obasanjo argued that the government alone could not fix the persistent power challenges, stressing that greater private-sector involvement was necessary to achieve lasting improvements.
He made the remarks at a Youth Governance Dialogue themed African Youth and Renaissance, held at the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The former president compared the electricity sector to the telecommunications industry, noting that significant progress in the latter followed the involvement of private operators.
“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.
Obasanjo described energy as a critical driver of economic growth and national development, expressing concern that Nigeria had yet to make sufficient progress in addressing its electricity problems.
He also expressed optimism that young Nigerians could contribute to solving the country’s challenges through innovative ideas, technology and practical business solutions.
Speaking at the event, resource person Oluwaseun Obasanjo urged young people to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, particularly as Nigeria’s large consumer market presents opportunities for businesses.
He challenged youths to develop local solutions capable of competing with foreign businesses operating in the country.
“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 described the challenges facing Nigeria and other African countries as opportunities for innovation, rather than reasons for young people to abandon their ambitions.
“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 fail to adopt emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, risk falling behind.
“If you are not utilising technology, you will be left behind,” he said.
He encouraged participants to take advantage of free online learning resources, particularly YouTube, to develop practical skills in areas such as marketing, software development and management.
Also speaking, Obasanjo’s mentor, Dr Ayodele Aderinwale, urged young Nigerians seeking to influence public policy to adopt evidence-based advocacy and engage more actively with government institutions.
He said young people needed to move beyond complaints and protests by presenting well-researched proposals supported by facts and data.
Aderinwale advised those interested in influencing government budgets to understand how public funds were allocated and spent, including the amounts approved for capital projects and personnel costs.
“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 added that young people advocating changes in education policy should understand the challenges within the sector, including teachers’ salaries and the condition of public school 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.
Aderinwale maintained that presenting credible information and practical alternatives would make government officials more willing to engage with young advocates.
“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 said.
He also encouraged young Nigerians to participate in political parties, attend ward meetings and join professional, trade and community organisations, rather than limiting their involvement in governance to political rallies.
“Join a political party, attend ward meetings, not only rallies. Join your residents’ association, join your professional body, join your trade association,” he added.
