By Taiye Olayemi
Lagos, Dec. 20, 2025 (NAN) The Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Dr Umaru Kwairanga, says the North-East is defined by ideas, resilience and ambition, not by its challenges.
Kwairanga said this at the maiden North-East Youth Investment and Innovation Summit held in Gombe on Friday.
The NGX chairman, in a statement on Saturday, said the summit sent a strong message about the region’s future.
“This summit sends a powerful message that the North-East is not defined by its challenges, but by its ideas, resilience and future-facing ambition,” he said.
Kwairanga described Nigeria as a youthful nation, noting that over 60 per cent of the population was under 30 years.
He said the demographic reality leaves the country with a clear choice to invest intentionally in the youth or risk underutilising its greatest asset.
According to him, the youth are a nation’s future and any nation that wishes to progress must harness the drive and creativity of the youth to move forward.
“At Nigerian Exchange Group, we strongly believe that Capital Markets must work for everyone, across regions, sectors, and generations.
“When young people are equipped with financial knowledge, access to funding, and the right ecosystem of support, they do not merely seek jobs, they create them. They do not wait for opportunity they build enterprises that drive economic transformation.
“This is why initiatives that focus on investment readiness, innovation, sustainability, and youth empowerment are aligned with our broader vision for Nigeria’s economic future.
“They help bridge the gap between talent and capital, between ideas and execution,” he said.
Kwairanga urged young people to recognise that their ideas and voices were important, as he emphasises that their participation in the economy was not optional but essential.
He encouraged them to learn the language of finance, understand how markets work, and position themselves not merely as consumers of opportunities but as creators of value.
He also charged policymakers and industry leaders to live up to their responsibilities by continuing to build systems that were transparent, accessible and supportive of enterprise.
He said deliberate efforts must be made to ensure that no region was left behind in Nigeria’s development journey.
The NGX xairman further stated that the Exchange was ready to support youths in organising similar summits.
He urged that the initiative be made a regular event to attract more targeted investors to the state in particular and the North-East region in general.
Speaking on behalf of the Gombe State Government, Alhaji Abdulwahab Sabo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to youth entrepreneurship and enterprise development.
He highlighted ongoing government interventions aimed at strengthening MSMEs through policy support, capacity building, access to finance, and strategic partnerships designed to nurture innovation and economic inclusion. (NAN)