As Nigeria intensifies efforts to move millions of households from economic vulnerability to sustainable livelihoods, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Dr Karl Toriola, has called on Nigerians, particularly young people, to take ownership of their career progression by continuously developing skills and investing in themselves.

Toriola made the call against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s launch of the $1 billion Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP), an initiative designed to cushion economic pressures on vulnerable households while creating pathways towards long-term self-reliance.

Launched at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja under the theme, ‘From Palliatives to Pathways,’ the initiative represents a shift from short-term relief to structured interventions aimed at economic empowerment and household resilience.

Speaking at the launch, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu said HOPE-SP would combine immediate stabilisation support with interventions intended to help beneficiaries transition towards economic independence.

However, beyond government intervention, business leaders say sustainable economic progress will require Nigerians to develop the skills and entrepreneurial capacity needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

For Toriola, that responsibility begins with the individual.

Speaking at the Redefinition Conference, the MTN Nigeria CEO urged Nigerians to take deliberate ownership of their personal and professional development, emphasising the importance of continuous learning in an increasingly competitive economy.

“Your career, your future, your life is your responsibility and your responsibility only,” Toriola said.

He also shared his experience of investing in self-education, particularly in areas such as finance and risk management, stressing that professional growth often requires individuals to deliberately develop capabilities outside their natural areas of strength.

“If you want to develop yourself, you have to learn skills that don’t come naturally to you,” he added.

His position comes as Nigeria confronts significant gaps in human capital development and household earning capacity. A World Bank report estimates that deficits in health, education and workforce skills could cost Nigeria up to 111 per cent of future workforce productivity, while the country’s education index on the World Bank’s Human Capital Index Plus stands at 64.

The figures underscore the scale of the challenge facing a country seeking to translate its large and youthful population into a productive economic asset.

While social protection programmes can provide critical support to households facing economic hardship, business leaders argue that long-term prosperity will depend on building human capacity, creating opportunities and equipping individuals to participate productively in the economy.

Heirs Holdings Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has consistently championed entrepreneurship as a critical driver of economic opportunity across Africa.

“Only entrepreneurship can create opportunity where none seemingly exists,” Elumelu stated through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, adding that “young entrepreneurs and those they inspire are the lifeblood of Africa’s rise.”

His position reinforces the argument that social protection must ultimately be complemented by pathways that enable people to generate sustainable incomes, create businesses and participate in economic growth.

Industrialist Aliko Dangote has similarly emphasised the importance of education and opportunity in unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s young population.

Speaking during the rollout of his foundation’s N1 trillion education initiative, Dangote said, “Our young people are not asking for handouts. They are asking for opportunities. They are asking for a chance to learn, to grow, to compete and to succeed.”

He further described education as an economic imperative, noting that keeping children in school and supporting students to acquire relevant skills could help reduce inequality while creating future contributors to national development.

Taken together, the positions of the business leaders point to a broader conversation around Nigeria’s approach to economic empowerment: providing immediate support where necessary while simultaneously investing in the skills, education, entrepreneurship and opportunities required to make households economically resilient.

For Toriola, however, the transformation begins with a willingness to keep learning.

In a rapidly changing economy shaped by technology, artificial intelligence and evolving workplace demands, professionals who remain committed to acquiring new capabilities are better positioned to adapt and compete.