Ambassadors Summit 8.0: Osinbajo, Ogunsan, Others Admonish Youth on Economic Prosperity
The 8th edition of The Ambassadors Summit, Nigeria’s premier national youth leadership and entrepreneurship event, was successfully held on Saturday, 29th August 2026 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event which was organized by the Joshua Oyeniyi International Foundation, JOI, in collaboration with the Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, KAAF, convened under the theme ‘The Role of Emerging Leaders as Catalysts in Securing Nigeria’s Economic Prosperity’.
The event featured speakers from diverse fields, including the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of In-Spirited Writers Consult, Emeka Anslem; the Chief Executive Officer of Sycamore NG, Babatunde Akin-Moses; the 2026 UTME highest scorer, Danielle Owodeye; and the host of The Morayo Show, Morayo Afolabi-Brown. The summit also featured panel sessions and entertaining performances that further engaged and inspired attendees.
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Delivering his address virtually, former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, urged Nigerian youths to take active roles as “catalysts” in securing the country’s economic prosperity, saying the nation cannot afford passive observers.
Speaking further, he commended foundation’s chairman and founder, Dr. Joshua Oyeniyi, for sustaining the platform and nurturing the next generation of global Nigerian, while also pleaded by advising the delegates not to be weighed down by current challenges.
“Don’t be discouraged by today’s difficulties. Many of the world’s greatest ideas were born in tough times. History is not shaped by crowds of complainers, but by a determined few who create and do, he noted.
The former VP gave leaders three priorities: aim for global standards of excellence, choose collaboration backed by integrity, and build trust.
“Your brand, business or technology must meet global standards. The founders of the next multi-billion-dollar company will be people in this room today. And they will succeed because they keep their word. If you want to build a truly global Nigerian brand, your word must be your bond. Economic prosperity is built on trust,” he stated.
Daughter of Chief Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu who attended the event Dr. Abiola Adebutu Olorode, commended the massive turnout and energy this year, noting improvements from last year’s edition and called for continuous learning, networking, and the development of soft skills to thrive in a fast-changing economy.
“Ask yourself, how can I be a catalyst in the Nigerian economy as a youth? Education is continuous. You have to be continually learning, and learning, and learning… Apart from your skills, you need to develop soft skills. You need to be able to be a leader. You need to be able to be part of a team,” she said.
Speaking further, she Used Sir Kessington’s journey from modest beginnings and her own experience of identifying gaps in the private health sector in the 1990s to build a hospital, stressing on the importance of vision, purpose, and a mindset shift, citing that Sir Kessington, who will be 91 in a few weeks, remains a model of hard work, humility, and giving.
“You must have a vision. You must have a purpose. You must know where you want to be in a couple of years… Instead of being job seekers, you must create the opportunities for yourself. Change your mindset. A lot of people feel that Nigeria has disappointed you. But I tell you, most countries are facing economic challenges, she stressed.
Also, speaking at the event, the founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, urged business owners to approach their work with diligence, faith, and strong personal branding, saying profit comes from commitment and God-given ability.
she added that the real reward of investment, like funding a child’s education, lies in the blessings and impact it produces. While also admonishing business owners to prioritize branding and to differentiate their offerings instead of competing directly with others.
According to her, entrepreneurs should focus on complementing existing efforts because the market is large enough for everyone to succeed.
Also speaking, Founder of Billionaire Biblical Club, Femi Adisa, urged citizens and business leaders to focus on building domestic capacity rather than depending on foreign goods and currencies, arguing that, true poverty is not merely a lack of funds, but a deficit in self-esteem, innovation, and the drive to create value locally.
Adisa called on Nigerian entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and artisans to embrace local production, take ownership of building the nation, and pledged to continue mentoring emerging business leaders toward international success.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Planet 3R, Adejoke Lasisi, enjoyed young entrepreneurs to focus on her “three Ps” framework: People, Planet and Profit, citing that “Nigeria generates over 60 million tons of waste in a year, and less than 10% is being recycled,” and stressed that solutions must be financially viable, adding that “We all of us need to work together to be able to see the kind of Nigeria we want. Private, public sector, and the government.”
Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, called for a shift in how security is viewed, describing it as a foundation for economic growth rather than just another government expense.
“Security is not simply the absence of crime; it is the presence of an environment in which human potential can flourish. This is why I strongly believe that security and prosperity are inseparable,” he stated.
Ogunsan further announced a major donation to strengthen the Fund’s operations, revealing that Philanthropist Chief Kessington Adebutu has included security in his philanthropic focus, alongside education and healthcare.
“In less than 24 hours of accepting that extra pillar, he donated close to 1 billion to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund! And he specifically said, ‘Ayo, this donation is for you to have a security house,” Ogunsan revealed.
Addressing concerns about safety, Ogunsan assured Lagosians of proactive measures in place, citing 24-hour surveillance on land, water and air, backed by rapid response teams.
“Our ears are hearing it, but they are not in our domain… We will not allow any act of terrorism, any act that will destroy our peace to enter this beautiful city of Lagos. If you’re a resident of Lagos, go and sleep. Lagos is safe,” he assured.
Ogunsan therefore called for sustained partnership between government, donors and the private sector in order to keep Lagos secure and attractive for investment.
The convener and CEO of Ambition Consulting Limited, Dr. Joshua Oyeniyi therefore charged the youths to remain hardworking, consistent create a niche for themselves in order to standout in the saturated market.
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