Atiku: The Mission of a Visionary Leader and Youth Mentor

By Alaba Yusuf

“A leader is not measured by how long he stays. He is measured by what remains after he leaves” – Anonymous

Leadership in Nigeria has often been measured by the ability to acquire wealth and power, rather than public stewardship. Sad indeed. This is far from true democratic ideals of responsibility and accountability.

In fact, the actual barometer for measuring real leadership should be in what the leader builds and who he or she raises. Period.

And here comes the relevance and prevalence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s vision and mission: of a Nigeria that works for all, old and young, men and women!

A Nigeria that works for the next eneration has been the kernel of Atiku’s policy plan. This has not changed in many years. He has consistently embraced the youths, and motivated them through effective mentorship.

Atiku has always made a case for a restructured and all-inclusive country. He argues that over 200 million people cannot run to Abuja for everything. Power, resources, and policing must be devolved to states and communities, he argues. His logic is simple: the closer government is to the people, the more accountable it is.

The ADC Presidential Candidate is also a firm believer in private-sector driven economy. From telecoms liberalization as Vice President to his economic blueprint today, the mission is to get government out of business and into enabling business. More jobs, less bureaucracy. Peace and prosperity assured.

Atiku is an education investor, job creator, youth mentor and an entrepreneurial industrialist. A private-sector minded leader.

For good effect in skilled and educated workforce, he built the American University of Nigeria, not as a monument, but as a demonstrative model: in entrepreneurship, IT, and service. Because he believes:
> _“You cannot industrialize a country without first industrializing the mind.”_

That is the vision of a man on a practical mission. Not miracles. Atiku wants a system of unity in diversity that works for all. With equitable distribution of wealth, without waste.

His current focus is on the locus of a mission possible for our nation. Atiku has made it a duty to mentor the next generation of leaders: the youths, for a competitive Nigeria within the comity of nations.

After all, vision without successors dies fast. A great leader must have good successors. That is why mentorship is central to Atiku’s mission.

Hence, he stated in his speech on this year’s International Youths Day, August 12-13, held in Abuja, that:

“Countries do not develop because their citizens are genetically more gifted than Nigerians. They develop because institutions work, policies are consistent, leaders are accountable and citizens insist upon standards.

“That Nigeria will not come through miracles. It will come through choices: good policies, competent leadership, strong institutions and citizens who refuse to surrender their country.

“Poverty has no tribe. Unemployment has no religion. Insecurity does not ask for your political party before it strikes.

“Our generation of leaders has a responsibility to leave you a country in which your identity is a source of pride, not a weapon politicians use against you.”

Speaking at The National Youth Leadership Summit Of The African Democratic Congress in Abuja, Nigeria, 12–13 August 2026, Atiku, the Presidential flagbearer of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President (1999-2007), pledged the following to Nigerian youths:

Here is an extract from his “MY COVENANT WITH YOU” speech:

“Our partnership must mean something practical in the lives of young Nigerians.

“It begins with jobs and enterprise. Nigeria has millions of young people with ideas, energy and ambition, but too many cannot access the capital required to turn those ideas into businesses.

“We will expand transparent access to finance for young entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, technology founders and people working in the creative economy. Your surname, political connection or ability to find a godfather should not determine whether a good idea receives an opportunity to succeed.

“Education must also change. We cannot continue educating young Nigerians for an economy that no longer exists. Our schools must place greater emphasis on science, technology, vocational education, agriculture, digital skills, critical thinking and entrepreneurship. And no brilliant Nigerian child should be denied tertiary education simply because his or her parents are poor.

“We will also treat broadband and digital connectivity as essential national infrastructure. A young Nigerian in Gombe, Uyo, Sokoto, Enugu or Yenagoa should have the opportunity to participate in the same digital economy as someone in Lagos or Abuja. Technology should make dealing with government easier, faster and more transparent, not provide another layer of bureaucracy through which citizens must struggle.

“Security is equally fundamental. There can be no meaningful economic opportunity where people are afraid to travel, farm, attend school or operate their businesses.

“We will strengthen the security architecture, improve training, equipment and welfare, expand accountable community-based approaches and insist that the primary responsibility of the Nigerian state—the protection of life and property—is treated as exactly that: a responsibility, not a favour.

“And our democracy must work.”

From the above, it could be said that Atiku is always at home with young people and their creative initiatives. He does not just hire youth; he puts them in positions of authority and responsibility.

Many a time he has hosted NYSC members, student leaders, and young entrepreneurs from all over the country. The conversation often ranges from politics to business plans, scholarships, and entrepreneurship.

He tells them:
> _“Don’t wait for government to employ you. Build something, and we will build the environment for it to thrive.”_

Mentorship with a touch of class, that is. Many who tutelaged under him over the years, are now leaders across Nigeria, and abroad, in industries, public service and politics.

Atiku, the workman who wants the headman’s job, provides a shoulder for others, especially willing youths, to lean on and rise to stardom.

Usually, visionary leaders make provision for people to climb out of poverty and squalor. That speaks to Atiku’s ambition.

The Presidential hopeful leads by example and no wonder he encouraged Nigerian youths ahead of the 2027 general elections to: “Register, Organise and be prepared to Lead.”

Meanwhile, as Vice President and chairman of the National Executive Council, Atiku was part of the milestone decisions that created the first wave of Nigerian technology, telecommunications and banking jobs in Nigeria.

The Wazirin Adamawa is also of the school of thought of ‘politics without bitterness’. He often advises young people to eschew violence. Instead they should defend their fundamental rights and democracy through constructive constitutional means: judicial path of going the courts. He keeps saying: test the institutions to add value to societal growth.

His mission is not about just a powerful man in Aso Villa. But about a nation where institutions outlive individuals – as a long lasting positive legacy.

Therefore, visionary leadership should not be about age. Vintage wine, they say, tastes better with age. So be it with Atiku and his wealth of experience. It is about clarity and consistency, altruistic mentorship and statesmanship.

For decades, Atiku has made the same case: restructure the polity, devolve power, educate people, create jobs. What a stable mind? Preaching the egalitarian point of returning sanity to our common humanity.

Somehow, anyone may disagree with his method. But it is hard to claim the nonexistence of his methodical policy roadmap. Atiku is a futuristic thinker. A big dreamer for the common good, and greater happiness for the greater majority of the people.

Arguably, Nigeria’s greatest resource is not oil. It is in her over 100 million teeming youthful population.

Atiku’s mission has been to prepare this demographic bloc; with a vision of inheriting a decentralized, all-inclusive and productive country.

As a pragmatic mentor, Atiku is working steadfastly towards raising a new breed of future leaders for Nigeria.

Little wonder that a leader is never measured by how long he stays. But what remains after he leaves the power stage. Atiku lives for a reputable legacy, not ephemeral politics.

If the universities stand. If the businesses grow. If the young people he mentored lead with competence. Then the mission will have succeeded, Atiku believes. Thus he admonished the youths:

“For too long, you have been called the leaders of tomorrow. Your time is not tomorrow. Your time is now.

“Together, we can build a Nigeria worthy of your talent, worthy of your dreams and worthy of generations yet unborn.”

“Every young Nigerian who decides that hopelessness is no longer acceptable adds another stream. Every young person who registers, organises and decides to lead adds strength to the current.

“One person may be ignored, but millions cannot be ignored. One voice may be silenced, but a generation determined to shape its future cannot be wished away.”

Very apt of Atiku Abubakar: a visionary leader, and a youth mentor whose lifelong vision is a mission possible for Nigeria and Nigerians. Methinks!

Chief Alaba Yusuf is a public policy analyst, based in Abuja