Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ondo State, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace technology, innovation, and active participation in governance to help drive national growth and development.
Agboke made the appeal while delivering a lecture at the Leadership and Empowerment Summit organised by the Students’ Union Government and the New Dawn Administration of University of Ilorin on Friday.
Speaking on the theme, “From Ideas to Impact: Harnessing Youth-Driven Innovations for Sustainable Governance and National Development,” the INEC commissioner described young Nigerians as one of the country’s biggest untapped assets.
According to him, empowering youths through education, digital innovation, and involvement in governance would help strengthen democracy, improve accountability, and boost economic progress in the country.
He explained that many young people possess the creativity and intelligence needed to transform Nigeria, but challenges such as poor infrastructure, lack of funding, weak educational systems, and brain drain continue to slow down innovation and national development.
Agboke warned that ignoring these problems could create serious long-term economic and security challenges for the country.
He pointed to countries like Rwanda, South Korea, Estonia, and Kenya as examples of nations that achieved major growth by investing heavily in youth-driven innovation and technology.
The electoral commissioner said Nigeria has enormous human potential but needs stronger institutions and political commitment to fully harness the abilities of its young population.
Speaking further, Agboke praised several youth-led civic technology organisations in Nigeria, including BudgIT and Connected Development Initiative, for promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
He also noted that technology played a major role in Nigeria’s electoral reforms, especially with the introduction of the BVAS and IReV systems during the 2023 general elections.
Agboke referenced the #EndSARS movement as proof that Nigerian youths can organise peacefully and push for reforms through digital platforms.
He encouraged students and young leaders to become more involved in governance by voting, monitoring public institutions, participating in elections, and advocating for policy changes.
The INEC commissioner also advised youths to combine technical knowledge with integrity, communication skills, and ethical values, stressing that true innovation goes beyond technology alone.
He challenged students to stop waiting for perfect conditions before taking action and instead focus on identifying problems in society and creating practical solutions that can positively impact the nation.