By Sofiyyah Layole
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has urged Nigerian youth to prepare for transformative leadership, stressing that next-generation leaders will play a decisive role in shaping the nation’s economy and monetary policy.
He made this appeal at the inaugural edition of CBN Governor’s Annual Lecture Series, hosted at the Lagos Business School under the Bank’s Knowledge Acceleration and Thought Leadership Initiative.
He explained that monetary policy goes beyond interest rates and inflation targets, describing it as a matter of trust and stability.
“Monetary policy is not just about interest rates or inflation targets. It is about trust, stability, and the collective confidence of millions of economic actors who make decisions every day,” he said.
He added that strong institutions and resilient economies are built by credible leaders who can set vision, make tough choices, and build confidence.
According to him, Central banking leadership requires discipline to protect price stability, agility to adapt to shocks, and foresight to anticipate change. He noted that while innovation is critical for progress, it must align with stability, inclusion, and trust. “The leaders who will thrive are those who embrace innovation without losing sight of stability, inclusion, and trust.
Addressing students and young professionals in attendance, Cardoso stressed that today’s undergraduates and graduates would become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, policymakers, and central bankers.
He acknowledged that they face daunting risks, from climate change to technological disruption, but also extraordinary opportunities. “You are the most mobile first, connected, and creative generation the world has ever seen. The genius of this moment is that it is both testing and inspiring,” he noted.
The CBN Governor emphasized that the future of leadership must be data driven yet people centred, courageous yet humble, visionary yet accountable.
He concluded by reaffirming that while price stability remains the CBN’s primary mandate, it must go hand in hand with inclusion and economic diversification in a youthful country like Nigeria.