LAGOS, Nigeria – Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has challenged Africa’s youth to step forward as the drivers of the continent’s transformation, declaring them Africa’s greatest asset and insisting that lasting change will come from within, not from outside interventions.
Speaking on Wednesday night during the Future Africa Leaders Awards (FALA) 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, Kenyatta said Africa’s true wealth lies not in its natural resources but in the creativity, values and determination of its young people.
“We have been told of the great wealth beneath Africa’s soil, but our greatest resource is within the minds and hearts of our young people,” Kenyatta told the audience at the Loveworld Nation Arena. “You are not leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders of today who are shaping tomorrow.”
The former Kenyan leader delivered the keynote address at the invitation of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, which organises the annual awards to recognise young Africans making an impact through service, innovation and mentorship.
Kenyatta praised the 2025 award recipients for choosing service over personal gain, saying their work reflected a growing culture of values-based leadership across the continent.
“Each of these young men and women chose service over self, community over comfort, and vision over fear,” he said. “We honour not just what they have done, but who they have become.”
Kenyatta Hails Africa’s Youth as the Continent’s Greatest Asset at FALA 2025LAGOS, NIGERIA, January 1, 2026: Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has praised Africa’s youth as the continent’s greatest resource and urged them to lead with courage, integrity, and vision, asserting
He cautioned that Africa’s challenges are not rooted in a lack of ideas or energy, but in a shortage of leadership anchored in integrity, accountability and long-term vision.
Leadership, he added, should be measured by transformation rather than titles.
Kenyatta also commended Pastor Oyakhilome for creating what he described as a platform that goes beyond celebrating success to instilling purpose among young Africans.
“The Future Africa Leaders Foundation is investing in Africa’s most valuable resource — its people,” he said.
In a nod to intergenerational leadership, Kenyatta paid tribute to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he referred to as “Baba,” praising his continued role in mentoring emerging African leaders.
The former head of state used the occasion to deliver his New Year goodwill message, calling for unity, ethical leadership and renewed confidence in Africa’s ability to shape its own destiny.
“May Africa rise — built by Africans, strengthened by our unity, and guided by leaders committed to service,” he said.
The Future Africa Leaders Awards, founded by Pastor Oyakhilome, annually recognise young Africans who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in areas such as education, youth empowerment and mentorship.
