Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African nations to embrace younger leadership, saying that leaders between the ages of 25 and 50 are better equipped — both physically and mentally — to meet the demands of modern governance.
Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference held in honour of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Nigerian Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.
Recalling his own experience in office, Jonathan emphasised that the rigours of leadership often require long hours and high energy. He argued that younger leaders, with greater stamina and resilience, may be more capable of handling such pressures without compromising their health or effectiveness.
“Why do we begin to think that you must be a hundred years old before you can rule your country?” he asked, stressing that age should not be the primary criterion for leadership.
Jonathan aligned his perspective with the spirit of Nigeria’s #NotTooYoungToRun movement — a campaign that successfully pushed for constitutional amendments reducing age limits for elective positions. He urged policymakers across Africa to consider leaders primarily in the 25-50 age bracket, which he described as the period of peak physical and intellectual capacity.
He also questioned the practice of public office holders spending significant portions of their tenure away from their duties, suggesting that such absences can hinder governance and contribute to security and administrative challenges.
Reflecting on the legacy of General Murtala Muhammed, who assumed leadership at 38 and left a lasting impact in just 200 days, Jonathan said the example showed that decisive leadership can come from younger hands with vision and courage.
Jonathan further cited other historical examples like General Yakubu Gowon, who became head of state at age 32 and introduced the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) — a programme that continues to influence Nigeria’s youth development.
However, Jonathan made it clear that youth should be coupled with qualities like discipline, patriotism, and strong institutions. He stressed that democratic governance thrives on institutional strength, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to serving the public rather than personal ambition.
He encouraged young people to view leadership as a form of service, not entitlement, and reminded Africans that the true measure of leadership lies not in age or tenure, but in the impact and legacy leaders leave behind.