By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
Prince Paul O. Agbonlahor, Chairman and CEO of Lahor Group, has commended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their transformative governance initiatives. According to Agbonlahor, these initiatives are reshaping infrastructure and creating fresh opportunities for Nigeria’s youth.
In a media chat on Sunday, coinciding with International Youth Day 2025, Agbonlahor highlighted Governor Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda as a model for effective governance. The agenda includes landmark projects such as the Ramat Park-Auchi-Agbor-Ikpoba-Hill flyover, state intervention on the Benin-Auchi Federal Highway, and new security-linked roadworks in Edo North.
“These interventions are not just concrete and asphalt projects,” Agbonlahor said. “They are foundations for commerce, security, and the empowerment of our young people.”
Agbonlahor also praised the governor’s youth-focused policies, including the ₦1 billion bursary scheme, interest-free loans for small businesses, and massive skills training programs. These initiatives, he said, are direct enablers of social mobility.
At the federal level, Agbonlahor commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, citing the plan to train three million Nigerians in IT skills, the Scale Up Artisans Project, and the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Academy.
“For the first time, young Nigerians are not just being told they are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “They are being equipped to lead today, backed by governance strategies that combine infrastructure with empowerment.”
Agbonlahor urged Nigerian youths to seize these opportunities, saying, “Government can build bridges and provide tools, but it is up to our young people to cross those bridges with courage, innovation, and vision.”
The business mogul’s praise underscores the impact of effective governance on youth empowerment and national development. As Nigeria continues to evolve, initiatives like the SHINE Agenda and Renewed Hope Agenda are poised to shape the country’s future.
