Nigerian tech entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji believes that the solution to Nigeria’s complex economic challenges lies with innovative Nigerians, not the leadership in Aso Rock, Abuja.
“It’s not about protesting. God bless the protesters, but Abuja does not have the solution,” Aboyeji said during an interview on *Inside Sources* with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television on Friday.
“Unfortunately, Abuja may have caused these problems, but now we must look to the people for solutions. Those of us with resources need to think deeply about the future we are building. The solution will not come from Abuja; Abuja can’t solve our problems,” said the co-founder of billion-dollar unicorns Andela and Flutterwave.
He expressed concern that Nigeria lacks intellectually capable public servants who can drive the innovative change the country needs at this time.
Aboyeji also noted that the era of energy politics is ending, with the rise of electric vehicles and engines. He emphasized the need to shift focus from natural resources to building intellectual capacity.
“I admire this government for making tough economic decisions. Even if all the Bola Tinubu administration achieves is ensuring that energy prices reflect market realities, floating the currency to make exports cheaper, and stimulating wage growth—though I think wages should be higher than N100,000 to drive productivity—I would commend them,” Aboyeji said.
“However, I wish they would prioritize education. That is my only issue with them.”
He criticized previous Nigerian leaders for crippling the economy by offering unsustainable incentives such as cheap fuel, cheap dollars, and cheap imports.
“We’re now facing reality. We need fresh ideas and innovations. What’s missing is leadership. But leadership won’t come from Abuja; it will come from our communities, from people like you and me, going back and finding ways to help and lead our people,” he concluded.