“You Must Reclaim Nigeria, Challenge Those in Power, and Lead with Vision”—Falana Charges Youths at UNILAG RISE 2025 Conference on Innovation, Responsibility, and Nation Building
Renowned human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on Nigerian youths to rise up and reclaim the country from the current state of decline.
Falana made the call on Saturday at the University of Lagos during the sixth Annual Youth Leadership Conference themed Resilience, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship (RISE 2025).
The legal luminary noted that Nigeria was no longer what it used to be, urging the younger generation to redefine the nation and restore its lost glory.
“Youths must challenge those in power. Many of today’s leaders are from my generation, and we didn’t suffer like you do now. we lived with dignity,” Falana said. “We had genuine dreams of Nigeria becoming a global leader, blessed with vast human and natural resources. What happened to that dream?”
He emphasized that the youth are now bearing the brunt of the nation’s decline and must therefore take action. “You are told you’re leaders of tomorrow, but you must first be leaders of today. Take back what is left,” he added.
Falana also encouraged young people to draw inspiration from legendary African musicians whose messages can ignite a passion for justice and social change. “Nigeria is not poor,” he said. “We only suffer from material poverty because we have a poverty of ideas.”
Convener of the event, Mr. Olusegun Odufuwa, described the RISE theme as a rallying cry. “It is more than an acronym, it’s a declaration of intent and a shared vision for the future,” he said.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s challenges economic instability, infrastructure gaps, youth unemployment, and governance issues but insisted that the youth remain the nation’s greatest hope.
“If Nigeria is to rise, it must be on the shoulders of a generation that is resilient, innovative, socially responsible, and entrepreneurial,” Odufuwa concluded.
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