Taking a retrospective view of Nigeria's history since independence, the British High Commissioner to the country, Bob Dewar, on Thursday, said Nigeria can rule the world by 2060, if it was able to harness the potential of its teeming youths.

In a speech he delivered at the 2010 Akintola Williams lecture organised by the Nigeria-Britain Association, he said though Nigeria's greatest potential remained its people generally, the youth would make the difference if their talents were properly harnessed.

Nigeria, he observed, should rise above the mixed fortunes that had trailed its path in the last 50 years by looking forward, not just to 2020 or 2030 but 2060 when the majority of the present youths would have attained adulthood.

"You are fortunate to have considerable, still-to-be-tapped, wealth contained in your rich natural resources of hydrocarbons and agriculture. And those resources need to be used wisely for the benefit of your people.

According to him, the authorities must come to terms that it is the young Nigerian talents that can make the actual huge difference in future.

"You have the largest population in Africa. And most of your citizens are under 25. Indeed 40 per cent are under 15 and will therefore be under 65 in 2060-still young in modern terms!

"Harnessing their energies and talents, with good education, health, infrastructure and opportunities, could make up lost fast, as an emerging economy and power," Dewar stated.

The British envoy said Nigeria had the potential to lead the rest of countries in the African continent if it properly harnessed its comparative advantage in human and natural endowments.

He queried, "Where some Asian countries had the same per capita income as some African countries in the sixties but then spurted ahead, why cannot Africa awake with Nigeria at its helms?

"Why cannot Nigeria progress at 100-metre sprint speed? It has market potential and access and now technology. Why not benefit from the confidence that good policy and leadership brings through application of the rule of law, credible multiparty democracy, but better connection with citizens and a fairer deal for the poorest, with transparency and human rights?"