PrincePaul O. Agbonlahor, Chairman and CEO of Lahor Group, has commended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for introducing what he described as bold and transformative initiatives that are reshaping infrastructure and opening new opportunities for young Nigerians.
Speaking in a media chat on Sunday, the business leader and philanthropist said that while International Youth Day 2025 highlights the role of young people in driving global progress, the real story in Nigeria is how fresh investments in infrastructure and policies are directly enabling youth to thrive.
Agbonlahor pointed to Governor Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda, which includes landmark projects such as the Ramat Park–Auchi–Agbor–Ikpoba-Hill flyover, interventions on the Benin–Auchi Federal Highway, and new security-linked roadworks in Edo North, as proof that good governance can drive both safety and economic growth.
“These interventions are not just about concrete and asphalt,” he said. “They are foundations for commerce, security, and the empowerment of our young people.”
He also praised Edo’s ₦1 billion bursary scheme, interest-free loans for small businesses, and large-scale skills training programmes as direct pathways to social mobility.
At the federal level, he welcomed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the plan to train three million Nigerians in IT skills, the Scale Up Artisans Project, and the creation of the Nigeria Youth Academy. “For the first time, young Nigerians are not just being told they are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “They are being equipped to lead today.”
Agbonlahor urged young people to take ownership of these opportunities: “Government can build bridges and provide tools, but it is up to our young people to cross those bridges with courage, innovation, and vision.”
