At LEADERSHIP Conference/Awards, Gugua Seeks Stronger Institutions, Youth Engagement Platforms

A content creator, Eric Gugua, has stressed the need for stronger institutions and structured youth engagement channels, saying political stability should be measured by institutional strength rather than the mere absence of conflict.

Speaking at the 18th Annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards in Abuja on Thursday, Gugua said his monthly online conversations with young Nigerians across the world have revealed a growing need for safe and structured spaces where young people can express ideas, channel their energy and contribute meaningfully to society.

He noted that many young people grow up socially conditioned but without adequate platforms to translate their passion and creativity into productive outcomes, leading to frustration and underutilised potential.

According to him, the recurring virtual forums he hosts were designed to bridge that gap by connecting young Nigerians globally, encouraging dialogue on leadership, civic responsibility and personal development, and helping participants find direction and purpose.

Gugua said youth engagement must go beyond symbolic inclusion and become a sustained process built on listening, mentorship and opportunity creation.

He argued that nations and regions derive real resilience from the quality of their institutions, not from surface-level calm.

“Political stability is not the absence of conflict,” he said, adding that a country’s true strength lies in the credibility and durability of its institutions.

He called on public and private sector leaders to invest more deliberately in institutional development and youth-focused participation frameworks, noting that inclusive systems were better equipped to manage pressure, resolve differences and convert citizen energy into measurable development outcomes.