27/06/2026
The wave of AI pictures Nigerians are using to illustrate First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s advice shows one thing clearly: people are listening. That level of engagement is a show of obedience and respect for leadership. When citizens respond creatively, it means they take the message seriously.
But with that attention comes weight. Advice from leaders carries influence, especially among young graduates who are eager, skilled, and looking to meet global standards. So the way that advice is framed matters a lot.
Suggestions like starting small-scale businesses such as kulikuli, roasted corn, or akara can be valid paths to entrepreneurship for some. Yet to many graduates who spent years in school training for engineering, medicine, tech, education, and other professional fields, it can feel dismissive. It can sound like their degrees, ambitions, and readiness to compete internationally are not being seen.
The reality is that Nigerian graduates are not asking to be spoon-fed. They are asking for systems, policy, funding, mentorship, and opportunities that align with the world they’ve been trained for. They want to build, innovate, and contribute at scale — with government as a partner, not just a preacher.
Leaders should understand this hunger. Advice is powerful when it meets people where their aspirations are, and when it is backed by structures that make those aspirations possible. That is how trust grows, and how a generation moves from obedience to ownership.
Our graduates are ready for the world standard. What they need from leaders is guidance that respects their training and opens doors to get there.