Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that youths living in Lagos contribute an estimated ₦4.5 trillion annually to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Monday during the Abuja Dialogue held in Abuja. The event, organised by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, was themed “Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation.”
The dialogue, which serves as a precursor to the upcoming Lagos Leadership Summit, attracted members of the Federal Executive Council, commissioners and aides from Lagos State, politicians from across the country, private sector stakeholders, and fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA).
Speaking at the event attended by Nairametrics, the governor expressed appreciation to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, for hosting the forum aimed at strengthening the human capital required for Nigeria’s long-term development.
Sanwo-Olu explained that Lagos has developed a leadership ecosystem anchored on the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, an institution named after former Lagos governor Lateef Jakande, widely regarded as one of the state’s most transformative leaders.
According to him, the academy’s structured fellowship programme provides young Nigerians with hands-on experience in public service, cross-sector learning opportunities, policy exposure, mentorship from experienced leaders, and the chance to execute projects addressing real societal challenges.
“The results speak for themselves. Lagos youths contribute an estimated ₦4.5 trillion annually to our GDP, and 70 per cent of new businesses in Lagos are youth-founded ventures,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“These are not figures of potential; they are figures of performance. They show that when you invest in young people, they deliver.”
The governor urged other states to adopt structured leadership development systems and called for stronger collaboration between federal and state institutions to improve how resources are allocated for human capital development.
“If we can establish a national infrastructure fund for roads and bridges, then surely we can establish a national framework for building the human infrastructure that will design, manage, and sustain those roads and bridges for generations to come,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Hassan Hadejia, emphasised the need for institutions to remain responsive to youth development.
He said equipping young Nigerians with the right leadership skills is essential to helping them navigate the complexities of governance and national development.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, noted that the dialogue was designed to bring together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening youth leadership across the country.
She called on government authorities to promote stronger institutional alignment and build a national consensus around youth empowerment initiatives.
Meanwhile, a recent internally generated revenue (IGR) analysis for 2024 highlighted growing disparities among Nigerian states. According to a 2025 report by Nairametrics, Lagos, Rivers State, and the Federal Capital Territory continue to dominate subnational revenue generation.
The report indicated that Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT generated a combined ₦3.63 trillion in internally generated revenue in 2024, up from ₦2.43 trillion in 2023, representing a growth of 49.69 per cent.
