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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
Nigeria at 66: ‘We Must Not Lose Faith in Nigeria’ — FCC Boss Omidiran
Joel Ajayi
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary to renew their faith in Nigeria, strengthen national unity and recommit themselves to building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
In her 66th Independence Day message, Hon. Omidiran described October 1 as more than a celebration of freedom, saying the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey, acknowledge its progress and challenges, and renew the collective determination to build a nation where every citizen has a sense of belonging.
According to the FCC Executive Chairman, the Federal Character Principle remains particularly important to the quest for national cohesion because equitable representation promotes a sense of ownership and confidence in the Nigerian project.
“Nigeria is a nation of great diversity and
enormous potential. Our responsibility is to ensure that this diversity becomes a bridge that connects us rather than a barrier that separates us. Every Nigerian deserves to feel that he or she belongs to this country and has a role to play in its development,” Omidiran said.
The FCC boss called on government institutions at all levels to remain committed to fairness, equity, accountability and inclusive governance, while urging citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening national institutions and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“We must not lose faith in Nigeria. The challenges before us are real, but so are the opportunities and the enormous human and natural resources available to us. Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute his or her own quota to building the Nigeria we desire,” she stated.
The FCC Executive Chairman also urged young Nigerians to remain committed to acquiring knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and other productive ventures, describing the youth as critical stakeholders in the country’s future.
“As we celebrate 66 years of independence, let us remember that the Nigeria we want cannot be built by government alone. It requires the commitment of all of us – leaders and citizens, young and old, from every part of the federation. Together, we can build a Nigeria where justice, fairness, opportunity and peace are available to all,” she said.
Omidiran reaffirmed the FCC’s commitment to the effective discharge of its constitutional mandate and to supporting efforts that promote equitable representation and inclusive national development across the federation.
The former lawmaker wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful and memorable 66th Independence Anniversary, praying for continued peace, stability, prosperity and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our differences should never be greater than our common identity as Nigerians. Let us continue to choose unity over division, service over self-interest and hope over despair. The Nigeria of our dreams is possible if we all play our part,” Omidiran said.
“On behalf of the Federal Character Commission, I congratulate all Nigerians on this 66th Independence Anniversary. May this occasion renew our patriotism, strengthen our unity and inspire us to work together for a stronger, more equitable and prosperous Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
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