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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.
News
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
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