Nigeria risks future crisis without scalable innovations – NESG

Nigeria must urgently scale innovations capable of reaching its underserved populations or face the prospect of its rapidly growing young demographic becoming a future social and economic crisis, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has warned.

Tayo Aduloju, CEO of NESG, issued this warning in Abuja, emphasizing the significance of gender and inclusion for Africa's future ahead of the 2026 Gender and Inclusion Summit. He pointed to the continent's expanding youth population, projecting that by 2050, Africa will have approximately 900 million people under the age of 35. Nigeria alone is expected to comprise about 320 million of this demographic.

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It’s important to scale the conversation just one ounce further, one inch higher, to note that in 2050, 25 years from now, the entire continent of Africa will have an under-35 population of about 900 million. 900 million. 320 million of that under-35 population will be Nigerian.

Aduloju stressed that these figures necessitate a shift from policies and small-scale interventions to solutions that can reach millions. He described the "last mile" as the concentration point for most Nigerians facing deprivation, where exclusion is largely geographical and intertwined with poverty, gender, and age. "The last mile is usually the nexus of exclusion. The last mile is the nexus of the disconnected. The last mile is usually the nexus of the forgotten. The last mile is usually the nexus of the unseen," he stated.

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The reason why it’s important is that the last mile is usually the nexus of exclusion. The last mile is the nexus of the disconnected. The last mile is usually the nexus of the forgotten. The last mile is usually the nexus of the unseen.

The scale of poverty in Nigeria, with an estimated 133 million people multidimensionally poor, predominantly in rural areas, makes isolated interventions insufficient. Aduloju noted that children constitute a significant portion of those missed by current efforts, and the exclusion of women, particularly mothers and young girls, exacerbates the problem. "When you look at that number, a significant percentage of that number are children. So, by the way, the unseen are also the youngest amongst us," he added.

The NESG boss linked this exclusion to a chain beginning at birth, warning that failure to address these issues will create deeper challenges for future generations. The "last mile conversation" is critical for ensuring that innovation counts and that the continent's demographic advantage translates into sustainable development rather than a crisis.

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When you look at that number, a significant percentage of that number are children. So, by the way, the unseen are also the youngest amongst us. And when you look at why that unseen number, the children are the most, it’s because their mothers are excluded.