President Bola Tinubu has described Nigeria’s young population as the country’s greatest asset, saying the creativity, resilience and enterprise of its youth were more valuable than the mineral resources beneath the nation’s soil.

Tinubu made the declaration at the groundbreaking ceremony for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Centre for Youth Empowerment and Inter-Cultural Dialogue at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, at the weekend.

The President, who was represented at the event by the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, described the project as more than the construction of a new facility, saying it represented a deliberate investment in the aspirations and potential of Nigerian youths.

He said the centre would provide a platform for young Nigerians to acquire practical skills, develop business ideas, access mentorship and establish connections with local and international industry partners.

According to Tinubu, the success of the centre should not be judged by the size or appearance of its facilities but by the opportunities it creates and the impact it has on young people.

He also called for stronger collaboration among universities, government agencies, businesses, investors, civil society organisations and international development institutions to create pathways for young people to access economic opportunities and turn their ideas into sustainable enterprises.

The President further stressed the importance of using the centre to promote understanding among Nigerians from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

He said such engagement would contribute to national unity, peaceful coexistence and stronger social cohesion.

Tinubu expressed the expectation that the institution would eventually become a hub for developing future leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and responsible citizens, rather than functioning solely as an academic facility.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Simeon Bamire, said the centre was conceived to address some of the major challenges facing young people, including unemployment, inadequate access to skills, unequal economic opportunities and social exclusion.

Bamire said the initiative would provide young people with practical competencies while encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation and access to meaningful opportunities.

He added that the centre was designed to attract young people from Nigeria, other African countries and beyond, providing an environment where they could learn, collaborate and develop solutions to common challenges.

Its programmes are expected to focus on areas including entrepreneurship, digital technology, leadership, creative enterprise and peacebuilding, while promoting collaboration across cultural and national boundaries.

The proposed facility will comprise an international conference and dialogue complex, a digital innovation and learning duplex, an entrepreneurship and incubation hub, a scholars and creators lodge, and a culture exhibition and community engagement centre, alongside administrative, research and support facilities.

The project is expected to contribute to human capital development, job creation, enterprise growth, social inclusion and peacebuilding, while also supporting research, policy development and networking among young people and institutions.

A January commissioning target was mentioned at the event, although the year was not specified.