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Nigerian architect and youth advocate, Arc. Zulkifilu Dalhatu Yahuza, has raised concern over what he described as the growing risk of young Nigerians losing confidence in their country as they struggle with unemployment, insecurity, poverty and limited economic opportunities.
Yahuza, founder of Hoopoe Architects Limited and known by the traditional title “Garkuwan Matasa” (Defender of the Youth), said the country’s youth challenge should be viewed as a national development issue requiring urgent and practical intervention.
According to him, Nigeria has a young population with enormous talent and ambition, but many young people are unable to translate their potential into sustainable livelihoods because of limited access to education, skills, capital and employment opportunities.
“The danger is not simply that young people are unemployed. The greater danger is when a generation begins to lose confidence in its own country and believes that its only path to a better life is to leave Nigeria,” he said.
Yahuza said government at all levels must move beyond speeches and conventional approaches to youth empowerment and focus on programmes and policies that create measurable opportunities.
He identified education, vocational training, technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture and industrial development as areas requiring stronger investment.
He also called on the private sector to take a more active role by supporting skills development, apprenticeships, innovation and businesses capable of creating decent employment.
Yahuza argued that youth development should not be separated from the broader question of governance.
He said young Nigerians should have a meaningful place in decision-making rather than being engaged primarily as supporters during election campaigns.
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“Political leaders must begin to see young Nigerians as partners in governance, not instruments of political mobilisation,” he said.
He urged young people to also take responsibility by acquiring relevant skills, participating in civic activities and preparing themselves for leadership.
Yahuza said his advocacy work has involved mentorship, empowerment initiatives, financial assistance, social-media engagement and the creation of platforms that allow young Nigerians to interact with leaders and participate in important national conversations.
He said his traditional title, Garkuwan Matasa, conferred by the Emir of Gusau, serves as a responsibility to continue advocating for the wellbeing and aspirations of young people.
The architect also believes the private sector can contribute to youth development through the expansion of productive sectors such as construction and real estate.
He noted that properly planned development projects can create employment opportunities for architects, engineers, artisans, builders, suppliers, transporters, facility managers and other professionals.
Yahuza said Nigeria should therefore see its youth population not as a problem to be managed but as a resource to be developed.
“I remain optimistic about Nigeria because our greatest strength is our people, particularly our young population,” he said.
He added that investing properly in young Nigerians could transform them from a generation searching for opportunities into a generation creating them.
“If we invest properly in them, they can become the driving force of our national transformation,” Yahuza said.
