Our greatest asset is youth, not oil or money – NSITF Boss Faleye
From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has hailed Nigerian youths as the nation’s most valuable asset, insisting that they
From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, has hailed Nigerian youths as the nation’s most valuable asset, insisting that they surpass mineral resources, infrastructure, and capital in importance.
He noted that young people must not just be skilled but empowered to lead across sectors, drive innovation, and create sustainable progress.
Faleye said this at the Student Mentorship Summit 2006, organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday.
The 2026 edition, themed “Skybound Leadership: A Multi-Sector Approach to Youth Development in Tech, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Security, and Anti-Drug/Cybercrime Advocacy,” builds on the success of the maiden summit at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.
The NSITF chief noted that potential alone was insufficient without guidance, support, and protection.
Faleye said, “In Nigeria, our greatest asset is neither oil, nor infrastructure, nor even capital, it is our people. More specifically, it is our youth – energetic, innovative, and full of potential.
“This event is part of our shared journey to shape Nigeria's future where our young people are not just equipped with skills, but also empowered to lead across sectors, drive innovation, and create sustainable progress.”
Represented at the summit by his Technical Assistant, Dr Dayo Alao, the NSITF boss outlined a blueprint for youth development, urging a shift from entitlement to responsibility, dependency to self-reliance, and consumption to production.
He also highlighted the link between social protection and national development.
Faleye stated, “We need to inspire them to be job creators, not just job seekers, and encourage them to be innovators solving real-world problems, not just chasing certificates.
“Investing in youth development is inseparable from investing in social protection. A protected workforce is a productive workforce, and that's what drives national prosperity.”
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He also emphasized the importance of cultivating “skybound leadership,” describing it as a mindset that encourages systems thinking and resilience across sectors.
“The future we desire for Nigeria will not happen by chance. It must be designed, built, and sustained,” Faleye added.
Earlier, NANS National Publicity Secretary Comrade Samson Ajasa, convener of the summit, noted that the event seeks to bridge the gap between Nigerian youths and local and international opportunities.
Faleye was also presented with the Social Protection Champion Award for his outstanding leadership at NSITF.
The summit drew participants from heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), captains of industry, and thought leaders.
