President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Jamiu Ibrahim, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030 is attainable if government and stakeholders harness the potential of the nation’s youth.
Speaking on Saturday in Abuja at the NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneur National Summit 2025, Ibrahim said the path to achieving the target lies in digital transformation, innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and supportive policies that empower young people.
> “Nigeria’s ambition of building a one trillion dollar economy by 2030 is bold, but it is achievable. However, this can only be realized if we unlock the full potential of our youths,” Ibrahim said.
He urged lawmakers to enact legislation that prohibits discrimination against young businesses, thereby creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurship. He also pledged NACCIMA’s commitment to driving policies in trade facilitation, export promotion, enterprise development, and MSME support.
According to him, small businesses remain central to Nigeria’s economic future.
> “The small businesses are the ones that will turn around the fortunes of our country. Support them, nurture them, fund them, promote them and open markets for them. They are the big businesses of tomorrow,” he said.
Representing the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, Mr. Ugonna Aneke highlighted the role of youth as catalysts of sustainable innovation. He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population—the largest in Africa—brings resilience, creativity, and adaptability needed for economic growth.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, commended government’s youth-oriented policies but stressed that more effort was needed to ensure youths play a leading role in the country’s economic development.
The National Publicity Secretary of NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneur, Mr. Rotimi Olaoluwa, described the summit as historic, saying it created a platform for stakeholders to showcase opportunities available to young people in different ministries, departments, agencies, and partner organizations.
