Kalu: Nigeria’s Energy and Creativity Reflect Africa’s Promise

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says Nigeria’s energy and creativity are a reflection of Africa’s promising future.

Kalu stated this on Wednesday when he received a delegation of young leaders from the Torchbearers of Liberty Fellowship on a courtesy visit to the National Assembly, Abuja.

He cited a United Nations report which projects that by 2030, one in every three new entrants into the global labour force will be African, adding that the continent must act now to harness that potential through deliberate policies and legislation.

According to him, initiatives such as the $600 million iDICE partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) are already expanding opportunities for young innovators in technology and the creative sector.

“Nigeria stands at a defining moment. Our energy and creativity reflect Africa’s promise. To harness this potential, we are expanding opportunities through deliberate policy and legislation,” Kalu said.

A statement on Wednesday by Udora Orizu, SA Press Affairs to the Deputy Speaker, said Kalu emphasized that the 10th House of Representatives is “legislating with the future in mind” by prioritizing bills that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and inclusion.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts by the House Committee on Constitution Review, which he chairs, to ensure that the Nigerian Constitution reflects the aspirations of all citizens, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

“We are driving reforms that advance inclusion, gender balance, youth participation, and local governance,” he said. “A constitution must not only define governance but mirror the governed.”

Kalu urged the visiting fellows to embrace collaboration beyond borders and to drive ideas that connect innovation to sustainability and opportunity to equity.

 “Leadership is not defined by age, but by the courage to envision a better tomorrow and act boldly in pursuit of it,” he said.

Earlier, Acting Director-General of the Torchbearers of Liberty Fellowship, Amara Nwankpa, said the visit was part of a pan-African leadership training programme jointly organised by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and Students for Liberty (SFL).

He said the visit provided participants with an opportunity to learn from the Deputy Speaker’s public service experience and gain insight into Nigeria’s legislative processes.