ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has hailed young Nigerians as the nation’s greatest asset, encouraging them to take the lead in ushering Nigeria into a future defined by stability, innovation, and inclusive growth.
Cardoso made these remarks on Friday during the inaugural CBN Governor Annual Lecture Series, held at the Lagos Business School with the theme ‘Next Generation Leadership in Monetary Policy and Nation Building.’
The Lecture Series, a key component of Cardoso’s Knowledge Acceleration and Thought Leadership Initiative, is a core part of the apex bank’s strategy to enhance public understanding of monetary policy and improve its effectiveness.
It also seeks to stimulate dialogue, drive innovation, and build an inclusive financial ecosystem that positions Nigeria as a leader across Africa and globally.
Cardoso stressed that credibility, transparency, and innovation-driven leadership would shape Nigeria’s economic future.
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“Nigeria’s most important asset is its next generation. You, the emergent cohort of scholars, professionals, and civic actors, are not merely participants in this dialogue; you are its very subject. Leadership cannot be separated from nation-building, it must rest on trust, stability, and the collective confidence of millions of economic actors,” he said.
He highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population, noting that over half of its citizens are under 30, with a median age of 18 one of the youngest demographics in the world.
“This demographic structure provides both an opportunity and a responsibility,” he added.
Cardoso outlined the impact of recent economic reforms, noting that decisive policy tightening had lowered inflation from nearly 35 per cent to around 20 per cent, while GDP grew by 4.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.
He stated that external reserves had surpassed $42bn, with investor confidence and capital inflows gradually improving.
He credited these gains to restoring monetary policy credibility, halting direct CBN financing of the government, and unifying exchange rate windows measures that strengthened the naira and improved Nigeria’s sovereign credit ratings.
Referring to the reopening of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Cardoso underscored the value of national reputation.
“Reputation is one of the most valuable assets a person, an institution, or a nation can possess. When it falters, confidence weakens; when it is rebuilt, opportunities multiply,” he said.
Cardoso encouraged young Nigerians to embrace digital innovation, rely on evidence-based policymaking, and engage actively in civic life.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s policymakers, entrepreneurs, and central bankers. You must not only inherit leadership but transform it,” he concluded.