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2025 Youth Day: Minister, Mind the_Gap Urge Youth to Lead With Action, Innovation, and Impact
Cyril Ogar
The Federal Government has renewed its call for young Nigerians to move from conversation to concrete action as the country commemorates the 2025 National and African Youth Day.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, in collaboration with Mind the Gap, others stakeholders, facilitated the commemoration of the 2025 Africa/National Youth Day on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Abuja under the theme “From Aspiration to Action: Youth as Agents of Reparative Justice and Sustainable Development.”
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young people within the framework of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that Nigeria has entered a new era where young citizens are no longer seen as leaders of tomorrow, but as leaders actively shaping national development today.
“This is the first time our story is changing,” Olawande said. “Young people must move from talking to producing tangible results. Your ideas, your courage, and your energy will shape the future of Nigeria and Africa.”
The Minister highlighted the significant progress made in youth-inclusion policies, innovation partnerships, and investment attraction—driven by the Ministry’s renewed collaborations with the private sector, international organisations, and development stakeholders. He emphasised that new institutional reforms and policy frameworks are designed to equip young Nigerians with tools to tackle long-term challenges related to justice, green skills development, digital innovation, and inclusion.
Olawande also applauded the Mind the Gap, UNFPA, NILDS, the National Youth Service Corps, and other partners for their contributions to youth empowerment.
According to him, the NYSC is evolving beyond national service into a platform for capacity building, entrepreneurship, and employability enhancement.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is a clear promise to support young Nigerians,” he added. “Progress needs all of us—government, private sector, communities, and young people themselves.”
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Mind the_Gap and Special/Technical Adviser to the Minister of Youth on Institutional Capacity and Programme Sustainability, Tayo Olosunde, stressed the importance of institutionalising and strengthening youth development initiatives.
He commended the Minister for his exceptional leadership in uniting key actors across sectors to drive strategic investments in young people.
“As we advance, several new MOUs will shape the next phase of youth empowerment in Nigeria,” Olosunde said. “Our responsibility is to ensure these agreements are institutionalised and sustained, creating programmes that deliver long-term impact.”
Olosunde also announced that the National Youth Development Awards will hold for the first time, recognising organisations, ministries, agencies, and states that have shown exceptional dedication to youth development. He described the upcoming ceremony as “the icing on the cake” of the year’s efforts.
Delivering his welcome remarks, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, underscored that Africa’s youthful population represents immense potential—but only when backed by deliberate, inclusive policies.
He stated that young people must be seen as active co-creators of policy and agents of transformation, not passive beneficiaries. According to him, this requires moving from political rhetoric to strategic interventions that build real skills, capacities, and leadership pathways.
“Today’s gathering is more than ceremonial; it is a call to action,” he said. “Government, institutions, development partners, and communities must renew their commitment to youth inclusion and forge a new social contract that sees young people not as problems, but as partners.”
Prof. Sulaiman urged young Africans to keep aspiring, innovating, and taking bold steps to drive sustainable development across the continent.
However, the two-day event feature: Open conversations, Innovation exhibitions and pitches, Youth parley, Cultural displays, Dance-drama performances, Launch of new youth-focused initiatives
As the celebration serves as a powerful reminder that the future of Africa rests in the hands of its youth, while also providing a platform for dialogue on issues shaping the continent’s future.
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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