10/09/2026
Excerpts from my presentation at the South West APC Youth Conference in Lagos | Sept 10, 2026.
The Golden Mean
I touched on Aristotle’s ‘golden mean’ which says virtue lies between excess and deficiency. In other words, wisdom and harmony come from self-control and proportion in all endeavors. And you don’t have to be endowed with so much to contribute to progress.
Emperor Caligula
I spoke about the rise and fall of the youthful Emperor Caligula of the Roman Empire who ascended the throne at age 24; how impunity, financial recklessness, hubris and lack of integrity ended his reign in four years though he started very well. Being young doesn’t confer immunity or invincibility on anyone.
The Philosopher-king
I highlighted Plato’s philosopher-king in The Republic, his argument that leadership is not a privilege but a burden of responsibility. The “philosopher-king” is Plato’s vision of the ideal ruler: a leader who combines political authority with deep philosophical wisdom, ruling not for personal gain but for the common good. Youth must embrace leadership as service, not self-aggrandizement. Leadership, therefore, flows not merely from the ballot box but from preparation, vision, and integrity. Those who would be guardians of posterity must be “quick at learning, capable of mental toil, retentive, diligent, combining intellectual with moral virtues.” This is not the portrait of a politician skilled in expediency, but of a statesman forged through rigorous preparation.
I charged the Youth:
You are digital natives in a world of innovation. Use technology not merely for entertainment but for mobilization, accountability, and civic participation.
You are custodians of culture. Preserve the values of honesty, respect, and community, while rejecting the toxic inheritance of tribalism and nepotism.
You are the majority. With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under 35, you are not a minority voice. You are the nation’s heartbeat and its posterity.
