Sterling Bank CEO calls on youth to take active role in governance

Abubakar Suleiman, Sterling Bank’s chief executive officer, has urged Nigerian youth to take active and deliberate roles in shaping the nation’s future, emphasizing that true nation-building demands sacrifice, participation, and long-term commitment.

Speaking at SMFest Abuja 2025, themed “Africa Unlocked: Leading the Digital Revolution,” Suleiman delivered a powerful presentation titled “Built to Last,” where he challenged young Nigerians to look beyond rhetoric and focus on building enduring institutions that will outlive them.

“The future of Nigeria depends largely on the willingness of young people to build legacies that outlive them,” Suleiman said. “You cannot build a nation through words alone; you must participate, contribute, and commit to building systems that serve your community.”

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He outlined five guiding principles for national transformation — cultivating a resilient mind, nurturing the body, fostering a loving community, engaging in governance, and committing to institution-building through personal sacrifice. According to him, “Institutions that last are built by people that make significant sacrifices. You must first address the expectations of the community that you care about and stay committed to serving them over time.”

Suleiman noted that Sterling Bank continues to live out these ideals through its HEART strategy, which prioritizes innovation in Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.
Following his keynote, Obinna Ukachukwu, the bank’s growth executive, joined a panel on technology, where he called for an urgent reconfiguration of Nigeria’s education system to meet the realities of the artificial intelligence era.

“The era of basic certificates is over,” Ukachukwu said. He explained that success in today’s technology-driven world requires adaptive learning, practical experience, and exposure to emerging tools. He highlighted Sterling Bank’s Beyond Education initiative, a N2 billion programme providing scholarships and internship placements as part of the institution’s commitment to bridging the skill gap among young Nigerians.

Through these interventions, Sterling Bank continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Nigeria’s most innovative and socially responsible financial institutions, driving youth inclusion and sustainable national development.