Atiku Pledges $100 Billion Start-Up Fund to End Youth Hardship and Restore Prosperity
Abuja, August 29, 2026 — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday declared that Nigeria’s young people need a government that creates real pathways to prosperity, not one that merely teaches them how to endure hardship.
In a strongly worded statement on X, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election painted a grim picture of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
He said it has stripped millions of purchasing power, weakened small businesses, and pushed young Nigerians further from jobs, capital and economic independence.
“My commitment is to change that,” Atiku stated. “We will restore purchasing power, reduce the cost of living and deliberately expand opportunities for young Nigerians, including through a $100 billion financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs.”
From Dependence to Enterprise
The former Vice President framed his vision clearly: move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise, from unemployment to productivity, and from palliatives to prosperity.
He argued that Nigeria cannot build its future by “distributing poverty” and must instead create an economy that generates jobs, rewards enterprise and gives every young person a fair chance to succeed.
The pledge came as Atiku received a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries who visited him to declare their support for his presidential candidacy.
He thanked the group for their confidence and used the occasion to reiterate that the choice facing the country is between an economy that continues to shrink opportunities and one that restores hope, dignity and prosperity.
“We will make Nigeria affordable again,” he concluded.
Broader Context of Economic Pain
The remarks land amid widespread public frustration over rising living costs that have intensified since major economic reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023.
Critics of the current administration, including Atiku, have repeatedly argued that the resulting increases in transport, food, and business costs have hit households and small enterprises hardest, while questions persist about the transparent use of savings from the reforms.
N-Power, a federal social investment scheme designed to provide temporary employment and skills training for young Nigerians, has itself faced challenges, with some beneficiaries previously complaining of delayed stipends.
The appearance of a nationwide group of beneficiaries publicly endorsing Atiku signals growing political mobilisation among young people as the 2027 contest gathers pace.
Political Stakes Ahead of 2027
Atiku’s latest intervention forms part of a broader campaign narrative focused on economic relief, youth opportunity and accountability.
The $100 billion financing proposal for start-ups and entrepreneurs is positioned as a large-scale alternative to short-term palliatives, aiming to inject capital into innovation and small business growth.
As Nigeria’s political temperature rises, the former Vice President’s message is clear: the next government must prioritize restoring the value of the naira in people’s pockets and creating genuine economic pathways for the country’s large youth population.
Whether the ambitious financing target can be achieved, and how it would be structured and funded, will no doubt dominate debate in the months ahead.
For now, Atiku has drawn a sharp line between managing hardship and deliberately building prosperity — a distinction he believes will define the 2027 election.
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