AIYEDATIWA TURNS YOUTH DREAMS INTO A STAKE IN TOMORROW
By Kikelomo Isijola
In a country where many young people remain on the margins of capital-market participation, Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, is opening a new pathway to investment and wealth creation for young entrepreneurs in the state.
The Governor has acquired 200,000 units of Dangote Refinery IPO shares for 500 young beneficiaries, giving each person 400 units valued at ₦210,000 at the stated offer price of ₦525 per share.
Announced at the 2026 Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) Entrepreneurs Summit in Akure, the initiative expands the scope of youth empowerment beyond conventional financial assistance by introducing beneficiaries to share ownership and the potential benefits of long-term investment.
The programme aligns with the entrepreneurship, innovation and investment agenda championed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment, Dr Summy Smart Francis, whose focus includes expanding opportunities for young people to build enterprises, develop investment awareness and pursue sustainable wealth creation.
For the 500 beneficiaries, the share acquisition offers more than an initial financial asset. It provides an entry point into the capital market, where informed investment decisions and long-term ownership can create opportunities for financial growth.
By connecting youth empowerment with equity investment, the initiative encourages beneficiaries to look beyond immediate income and consider how ownership of productive assets can complement their entrepreneurial ambitions.
It also creates an opportunity to deepen financial literacy, helping young people understand shareholding, monitor investments and make informed financial decisions.
This approach reinforces the vision associated with Dr Summy Smart Francis: equipping young people not only to start and grow businesses but also to understand investment as another pathway to economic participation.
The investment gives beneficiaries an opportunity to participate in the future performance of Dangote Refinery. If the company grows its operations and financial performance, its share value could appreciate. Shareholders may also receive dividends if declared.
At the stated offer price, each beneficiary’s 400 shares are valued at ₦210,000. If the share price reaches ₦1,000, the holding would be worth ₦400,000; at ₦2,000, ₦800,000; and at ₦5,000, ₦2 million.
These figures illustrate potential outcomes, not guaranteed returns. Actual investment value will depend on the company’s performance and prevailing market conditions.
The initiative marks an important connection between entrepreneurship development and investment awareness. By giving young people a stake in a major Nigerian enterprise, the programme creates an opportunity to nurture a generation that understands both how to build businesses and how to participate in investment.
For Dr Summy Smart Francis, this intersection of enterprise, innovation and investment is central to widening economic opportunities for young people.
With appropriate guidance on share ownership and investment management, the initiative could extend its impact beyond the initial acquisition to strengthen beneficiaries’ financial knowledge and long-term planning.
Ultimately, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa deserves commendation for embracing an approach to youth empowerment that looks beyond immediate financial assistance to the possibilities of investment and long-term wealth creation.
By giving 500 young entrepreneurs a stake in the Dangote IPO, he has opened a door to capital-market participation and demonstrated how public leadership can create opportunities for young people to build a more secure financial future.
This initiative reflects a forward-looking vision of empowerment-one that does not merely help young people survive today but seeks to position them to prosper tomorrow.
Hon. Kikelomo Isijola,
Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media
