An Ondo-based industrialist, Femi Akinkuebi, has said Nigeria will continue to struggle economically if it fails to convert its large population into a productive asset.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Akinkuebi said countries that achieved rapid development, particularly China, did so by making their population the centre of all national planning.
He noted that China compelled foreign companies seeking access to its market to employ its citizens, thereby turning a huge population into an economic advantage.
He said Nigeria, despite having a massive youth population, has not adopted policies that match its demographic strength.
“Many saw disorder; I saw unused capacity,” he said, arguing that the frustration witnessed among young people is rooted in economic neglect rather than mere indiscipline.
Akinkuebi criticised government investment priorities, saying Nigeria often builds roads and infrastructure that do not translate into long-term jobs, unlike factories that can employ thousands consistently.
He warned that no country progresses without aligning development policies with the needs and size of its population, adding that nations like India, Vietnam and Bangladesh are thriving because they treat their citizens as economic drivers.
Akinkuebi urged Nigerian leaders to shift from politics-driven development to population-focused planning, saying the country’s real wealth lies in its people and not in physical projects.
