Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said Nigeria’s young people need a government that creates prosperity, not one that teaches them how to endure hardship.

The former Vice President stated this after receiving a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries who declared support for his presidential candidacy on Saturday.

In a post on his X handle @atiku, Atiku said the cost-of-living crisis under the current administration has eroded purchasing power, weakened small businesses, and pushed many young Nigerians further away from jobs and economic independence.

“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 said.

“The cost-of-living crisis has stripped millions of Nigerians of purchasing power, weakened small businesses and pushed too many young people farther away from jobs, capital and economic independence.”

The ADC candidate pledged to restore purchasing power and expand opportunities for young people if elected in 2027.

“My commitment is to change that. We will restore purchasing power, reduce the cost of living and deliberately expand opportunities for young Nigerians, including through a $100 billion financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs,” he stated.

Atiku said his administration’s objective would be to move young people from dependence to productivity.

“Our objective is simple: move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise, from unemployment to productivity, and from palliatives to prosperity,” he said.

On the visit by the delegation, Atiku said, “I was pleased to receive, this afternoon, a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries who came to declare their support for my presidential candidacy,” Atiku said.

“I thanked them for their confidence and reiterated that 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.”

He framed the 2027 election as a choice between continued economic decline and a new path to growth.

“The choice before us is between continuing with an economy that shrinks opportunities and building one that restores hope, dignity and prosperity,” Atiku said.

“We will make Nigeria affordable again.“ (Sunday Tribune)