News
2025 International Youth Day: FG Urges Nigerian Youth to Harness Local Skills for SDG Advancement
By Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayoade Olawande, has called on Nigerian youths to harness and prioritise local skills as a catalyst for economic growth and national development.
He made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2025 International Youth Day celebration, themed “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.”
Marked globally on August 12, International Youth Day celebrates the vital role of young people in advancing sustainable development worldwide.
Olawande stressed that young people remain central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
“We cannot reach these goals without the energy, creativity, and leadership of young people. In Nigeria, more than 60 per cent of our population is under the age of 25. That is not just a statistic — it is our greatest strength,” he said.
The minister noted that Nigerian youth are already driving transformative change in sectors such as agriculture, health, education, renewable energy, and digital technology. However, he acknowledged that many innovators face obstacles, particularly in funding and market access.
To address these gaps, Olawande said the ministry introduced the Innovation Funfair to connect young innovators with partners who can help them grow.
“Today’s activities — from innovation booths to pitch sessions, networking, masterclasses, and cultural showcases — are more than fun. They prove that Nigerian youth are ready to turn ideas into impact,” he added.
He further explained that going “beyond the SDGs” means equipping youth for the challenges of the future, not just the 2030 target, by fostering skills, creativity, and vision.
The ministry, he assured, is committed to strengthening youth policies, improving access to funding, and expanding global opportunities for young Nigerians. He also urged the private sector, donor agencies, and civil society to invest in youth-led innovation.
“Support the ideas you see today with funding, mentorship, and market access,” he appealed.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Olubunmi Olusanya, pledged strategic partnerships to champion youth-led initiatives for economic and national growth. He pointed out that over 65 per cent of SDG targets are tied to local governance, making youth engagement essential.
“Sustainable development doesn’t begin in boardrooms; it begins with bold ideas, local innovation, and everyday actions by young people who dare to make a difference,” Olusanya said.
Also speaking, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, described the theme as particularly relevant given Nigeria’s youth-dominated population.
“Our youth are not just a future workforce — they are problem-solvers, innovators, and nation-builders today,” she said.
Attafuah praised young Nigerians for their contributions in areas such as aggrotech, digital innovation, peacebuilding through art, and climate action, while stressing the need to equip them with tools and platforms to lead change.
She reaffirmed UNDP’s continued investment in youth development across the country.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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