ABUJA – Nigerian youths have urged the government to take swift action in addressing the nation’s critical development challenges, pointing out a lack of opportunities and a disconnect between leaders and the younger generation.
During an International Youth Day event in Abuja, participants stressed the importance of government prioritizing issues such as education, employment, climate action, and gender equality.
They highlighted that while the current generation of leaders benefited from various opportunities in their youth, they have not extended the same to today’s young people.
The event, organized by the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) in collaboration with Oxfam in Nigeria, brought together over 300 youths and stakeholders to push for government action.
The youths showcased their contributions to gender equality, climate action, education, decent work, and active citizenship, calling for greater collaboration between youth and key stakeholders.
Opeyemi Ogundeji, NGYouthSDGs Programme Manager, emphasized that Nigeria is progressing toward youth-related SDGs but must accelerate efforts.
She explained that the event aimed to build momentum toward achieving the SDGs by recognizing and amplifying the efforts of youth making tangible impacts in their communities.
“We are on track, but we are not there yet. However, we can still reach our goals, which is why we are identifying the problems we’ve observed and proposing solutions, but we must intensify our efforts to get where we want to be,” Ogundeji said.
The event honored ten outstanding young individuals for their achievements in advancing the SDGs and recognized five for their contributions to a greener Nigeria.
Participants also engaged with changemakers, policymakers, and peers, exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and developing collaborative solutions.
Joseph Ibrahim, Programme Manager at the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, emphasized the need for intergenerational collaboration, noting that many leaders underestimate the contributions of youth.
Maxwell Osarenkhoe, Communication Officer at Oxfam in Nigeria, pointed out that too much focus is placed on the federal government, urging citizens to hold grassroots leaders accountable.
“To bridge the intergenerational gap, we need effective policies. When policies work, there’s less need for debate,” he said.
The event underscored the essential role young people play in promoting sustainable development and addressing national challenges, urging the government to take immediate action on pressing issues facing Nigerian youth.
