Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on Nigerian youths to take the reins of leadership and reclaim the country from the grip of the older generation. Speaking at the sixth Annual Youth Leadership Conference held at the University of Lagos, Falana emphasized that the time had come for the younger generation to redefine Nigeria’s path.
Addressing the audience at the event themed “Resilience, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship (RISE 2025),” Falana noted that Nigeria no longer reflects the hopes and values of the past. He urged youths not only to rise but to challenge the prevailing order that has left them marginalized.
“You must confront those in positions of power—many of whom are from my generation. We did not endure the kind of hardship your generation now faces. We lived with dignity, with access to quality education, stable jobs, and security. But that dream has faded,” he said.
Recounting the aspirations of his generation, Falana lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources, the country has drifted far from its potential. He called on young people to awaken a sense of purpose and justice, and to draw inspiration from the voices of legendary African musicians who advocated for freedom and societal change through their art.
He dismissed the notion that Nigeria is inherently poor, instead blaming the country’s challenges on a “poverty of ideas.” According to him, the mismanagement of resources and lack of vision are the true barriers to national progress.
“You’re constantly told that you are the leaders of tomorrow, but how can you wait for tomorrow when today is broken? You must first become leaders of today. It’s your responsibility to take back what remains and rebuild,” Falana asserted.
Convener of the conference, Olusegun Odufuwa, added that the RISE theme was more than a slogan—it was a call to transformative action. According to him, Nigeria is at a pivotal point, full of promise but weighed down by economic and infrastructural challenges, youth unemployment, and governance issues.
He maintained that the nation’s future rests on the shoulders of a youth population ready to rise with resilience, innovation, social consciousness, and entrepreneurial vigor. Odufuwa expressed hope that, together, young Nigerians can shape a more inclusive and forward-moving society.
