Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, declared that Nigerian youths require a government that fosters economic prosperity rather than one that conditions them to endure hardship.
Atiku made the remarks on Saturday afternoon, August 29, 2026, while receiving a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries at his residence in Abuja. The delegation visited the political leader to formally declare their support for his 2027 presidential candidacy.
Addressing the group and later detailing his position via a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday evening, Atiku criticized the current economic administration over the severe cost-of-living crisis.
He noted that inflationary pressures have severely eroded purchasing power, crippled small businesses, and restricted young people’s access to jobs and capital.
”Nigeria’s young people do not need a government that teaches them how to survive hardship. They need a government that gives them the opportunity to prosper,” Atiku stated.
Nigeria cannot build its future by distributing poverty. We must build an economy that creates jobs, rewards enterprise, and gives every young Nigerian a fair chance to succeed.”
To address youth unemployment, Atiku pledged to launch a $100 billion financing initiative targeting entrepreneurs and start-ups if elected in 2027. He emphasized that the primary goal of his policy direction is to move young citizens away from palliatives and into enterprise and productivity.
The delegation spokesperson commended Atiku’s economic vision, while the ADC candidate reiterated that voters in the upcoming election will choose between an economy that shrinks opportunities and one that restores dignity and affordability across the nation.
Atiku framed the upcoming election cycle as a clear choice between continuing with an economic model that shrinks opportunities and building an administration that restores purchasing power and prosperity. He concluded his address with a promise to “make Nigeria affordable again.”
