Speaking at the Leadership and Empowerment Summit organised by the Students’ Union and the New Dawn Administration of the University of Ilorin, Ondo State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mutiu Agboke, stressed that technology, innovation, and active participation in governance remain critical tools for building a more sustainable and prosperous Nigeria.
He urged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, integrity, and civic responsibility as key drivers of national development. Technology, must become the driving force behind the leadership, innovation, and transformation that Nigerian youths bring to national development.
Presenting a paper titled, “From Ideas to Impact: Harnessing Youth-Driven Innovations for Sustainable Governance and National Development,” the electoral commissioner described Nigerian youths as the nation’s greatest untapped development resource. He explained that empowering young people through technology, quality education, innovation, and participatory governance would not only strengthen democratic institutions but also stimulate economic growth and national stability.
Agboke noted that several studies and real-world examples have shown that young people can create economic value and improve social outcomes when they are given access to finance, mentorship, infrastructure, and opportunities for innovation. However, he warned that challenges such as poor educational alignment, weak infrastructure, limited funding opportunities, unemployment, and brain drain continue to hinder Nigeria’s innovation potential and long-term development.
According to him, addressing these barriers is no longer just a social responsibility but a matter of national survival and economic security. He cited countries such as Rwanda, Estonia, South Korea, and Kenya as examples of nations that transformed their economies through deliberate investments in youth-focused technology and innovation policies. He argued that Nigeria possesses even greater human capital potential but lacks the institutional discipline and political commitment needed to maximise it effectively.
Speaking further on governance and democratic participation, he praised the rise of youth-led civic technology initiatives in Nigeria, particularly organisations such as BudgIT and Connected Development Initiative, for promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. He added that technology-driven reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), significantly improved the credibility and transparency of the 2023 general elections.
The commissioner also referenced the #EndSARS protests as evidence of the power of Nigerian youths to organise peacefully and demand institutional reforms through digital platforms and technology-driven advocacy. He encouraged students and youth leaders to engage more constructively in governance by voting during elections, monitoring public institutions, advocating policy reforms, and using technology to drive positive social change.
Agboke further advised young Nigerians to develop not only technical and digital skills but also communication, ethical reasoning, leadership, and teamwork abilities, noting that true innovation goes beyond technology alone. He challenged students to stop waiting for perfect conditions before taking action and instead begin identifying societal problems, building teams, and creating practical solutions capable of transforming their communities and the nation at large.
“Be innovative. Be courageous. Be audacious. Be Unilorite, not only in knowledge and sagacity, but also in credibility and integrity,” he charged the students.
