Young leaders unprepared for power, experts warn as leadership debate deepens

Nigeria’s leadership crisis is no longer defined by a lack of talent but by a failure to prepare those who rise to power, according to policymakers and governance experts who say the country is producing ambitious leaders without the grounding to sustain influence.

That concern framed discussions around “Leading at 27: How Young Leaders Can Change the World”, a new book that has sparked fresh debate about how Nigeria trains, mentors, and supports its next generation of leaders.

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At the centre of the argument is a simple claim: young Nigerians are stepping forward, but many are doing so without the tools required to navigate the pressures, opposition, and ethical trade-offs.

Florence Ajimobi, chairperson of the book launch, said the consequences are already visible across public life.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision,” she said. “Too many bright and talented individuals rise to influence without the foundation of character. They seek power but overlook the responsibility that must guide it. And the consequences are all around us, broken trust, shallow impact, and a generation that sometimes confuses noise for leadership and entitlement for excellence.”

The author, Seyi Adisa, said the book was shaped by real experiences within government, including conversations with young professionals struggling to remain in the system.

“As I listened to her, I heard my own story,” he said. “And it hit me that we are losing a generation of young leaders not because they are weak, but because they are unprepared.”

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He argued that while many young Nigerians have vision and education, they are often introduced into complex institutions without guidance.

“No one gave them a roadmap,” he added.

The book presents itself as a practical guide, offering frameworks and reflection tools designed to help young leaders make decisions under pressure. It also introduces a structured initiative, GLANCE, aimed at building leadership capacity through peer learning in universities.

Jumoke Oduwole, minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, described the author as someone who has navigated public service with discipline and consistency.

“To step into public service at 27 and navigate it with humility and effectiveness speaks volumes,” she said, adding that such examples remain rare in a system often defined by hierarchy and resistance to new voices.

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Ini Abimbola, a governance expert, said the deeper issue lies in how leadership is built.

“We have the numbers, but we do not have the capacity,” she said. “What is missing are the structures, mentorship, frameworks, and honest conversations about what it truly costs to lead in a country like Nigeria.”

She warned that without deliberate investment in preparation, the country risks recycling the same leadership failures across generations.

Leadership coach Fela Durotoye challenged long-standing assumptions, arguing that the crisis may stem from how leadership itself has been defined.

“For decades, we told a generation they were the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “What that did was postpone their sense of responsibility. Leadership became something distant, something external.”

He added that leadership should be understood as a personal responsibility, not simply a position of authority, stressing that outcomes in society are shaped by what he described as “leadership quotient”.

The discussion drew a cross-section of public figures, including Sola Ajayi and Toye Arulogun, reflecting growing concern across sectors about the gap between potential and preparedness.

Across the board, speakers converged on a single point: Nigeria’s leadership problem is no longer about identifying who can lead but about building people who are ready to do so.