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APC Youth Wing Restates Commitment to Youth Empowerment, Leadership

Published

3 months ago

August 11, 2026

…Says Nigeria’s Future Must Be Built With Young People

Joel Ajayi

As the world marks International Youth Day 2026 under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Wing, under the leadership of the National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to participate, lead, innovate and contribute meaningfully to national development.

In a message commemorating the occasion, Dr. Dayo Israel described young people as indispensable partners in shaping the Nigeria of today and building the nation’s future, stressing that youth should no longer be viewed merely through the lens of potential, but recognised for the ideas, creativity, innovation, leadership and contributions they are already bringing to society.

“Young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are partners in shaping the Nigeria of today. Our responsibility is to create the opportunities, platforms and pathways through which their ideas can become impact.”

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day, he noted, reflects a shared reality across generations and societies: while young people may live in different countries, communities and circumstances, they remain united by common aspirations for opportunity, dignity, inclusion, meaningful participation and a better future.

In Nigeria, the increasing participation of young people in civic and democratic processes further underscores the need to create meaningful avenues for youth engagement.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,836,995 Nigerians aged 18 to 34, representing 68.83 percent of completed registrations, had completed online and physical registration in the Commission’s Phase II, Week 15 update of the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise as of April 28, 2026.

The APC National Youth Wing, however, maintains that youth engagement must go beyond celebrating young people on a designated day. It must translate into sustainable platforms that enable young Nigerians to ask questions, exchange ideas, acquire relevant skills, access opportunities, engage policymakers and participate meaningfully in public life.

Under Dr. Dayo Israel’s leadership, the National Youth Wing has continued to pursue this philosophy through youth-focused conversations, leadership development programmes, policy engagements, fellowships and empowerment initiatives designed to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge, networks and opportunities required to contribute to national development.

The Renewed Hope Conversations, including the Campus Policy Dialogue at the University of Abuja, have provided young Nigerians with platforms to engage directly with issues of public policy, governance, leadership and national development. Through these engagements, young people have had opportunities to ask questions, interact with public officials and connect national policies with the realities and aspirations of their generation.

Similarly, the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship (MAELF), organised in collaboration with the Dam Foundation, has created a platform for young Nigerians interested in energy leadership, innovation and Nigeria’s energy transition to develop ideas, strengthen leadership capacity and contribute to conversations shaping the future of the energy sector.

The Youth Wing has also continued to broaden access to youth-focused opportunities through initiatives such as the SWIP App, its community engagement platform, and the Zacch Adedeji Taxation and Fiscal Policy Fellowship, providing young Nigerians with additional pathways to connect, acquire knowledge and skills, engage with public policy and prepare for leadership and professional opportunities across diverse sectors.

Beyond political and civic engagement, Dr. Dayo Israel is also the Convener of the Mummy’s Men Movement, an independent national initiative promoting responsible fatherhood, positive masculinity, family values and the active participation of men in building stronger families and communities.

According to the National Youth Leader, these initiatives are driven by a broader philosophy of youth development: that young people must not be treated merely as beneficiaries of programmes, but as partners, stakeholders and co-creators of the future they seek to build and inherit.

Dr. Israel therefore reaffirmed the commitment of the APC National Youth Wing to ensuring that young Nigerians are heard, engaged, equipped and empowered to lead, while calling on governments, institutions, political organisations, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to create more pathways for meaningful youth participation and leadership.

“The future of Nigeria cannot be built for young people without young people. We must move from speaking about youth to building with youth; from preparing young people for leadership to creating spaces where they can exercise leadership today. Their voices matter, their ideas matter and their participation matters.”

The Office of the National Youth Leader also encouraged young Nigerians to take ownership of their voices, ideas and communities; participate responsibly in civic and democratic processes; and continuously develop the knowledge, skills, values and networks required to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.

The APC National Youth Wing congratulates young people across Nigeria and around the world on the occasion of International Youth Day 2026, and reiterates its commitment to building a generation of young Nigerians who are not only prepared for the future but are actively shaping the present.

Different Contexts. Common Aspirations. Shared Responsibility.

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NTAC Celebrates Seven Returnees, Applauds Contributions to Uganda’s Academic Sector

Published

8 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has welcomed seven Nigerian volunteers who successfully completed their two-year assignments at Makerere University, Uganda, commending their dedication, professionalism and contributions to academic development and international cooperation.

The volunteers were received on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a debriefing exercise held at the NTAC Complex in Abuja, where they shared their experiences, achievements and challenges during their service under the Federal Government’s Technical Aid Corps Scheme.

In a statement issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, NTAC, Ojo Adetoun Olubunmi, the exercise was designed to assess the volunteers’ performance, review their experiences and explore ways of translating the knowledge and expertise acquired abroad into meaningful contributions to their respective institutions and Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, the Assistant Director, Programme 11, Mr Felix Obidi, congratulated the returnees on the successful completion of their assignments.

Obidi commended their commitment, professional conduct and exemplary service, noting that their contributions had helped project Nigeria positively in the international community.

Describing the returnees as veterans of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, he urged them to deploy the knowledge, skills and international exposure acquired at Makerere University to improve their institutions and contribute to national development.

He likened their international experience to that of fishes that had explored wider waters, stressing that their exposure should distinguish them professionally and intellectually.

“You are no longer just returning volunteers; you are veterans of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. We expect you to bring back the knowledge and experience you have acquired at Makerere University and share them with your respective institutions. You are foreign fishes, and we expect more from you,” he said.

Obidi assured the volunteers that their expertise would continue to be valuable to NTAC and the country, while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained support for the Scheme.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, towards sustaining the programme.

Similarly, the representative of the Director of Programmes, Senior Counsellor Mrs Hauwa Arabu Mustafa, congratulated the returnees and commended their contributions to academic development and the promotion of South-South cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of the returning volunteers, their team leader, Prof. Abdul Anakobe Isah, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NTAC for providing them with the opportunity to serve at Makerere University.

He described the assignment as a rewarding professional experience and praised the university’s management and staff for their hospitality, cooperation, professional support and provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities.

However, he identified some accommodation-related challenges encountered during their two-year assignment.

One of the returning volunteers, Prof. Alo Oluwaseun Olubisi, highlighted her achievements, including securing a Research and Innovation Grant at Makerere University.

She explained that although she initially doubted her eligibility because she was a Nigerian, encouragement from her Head of Department prompted her to apply, eventually leading to a successful grant award.

Olubisi said the assignment significantly improved her teaching methodologies, lecture preparation and delivery while providing opportunities for professional development and research collaboration.

She also disclosed that she facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and her home institution in Nigeria, noting that the partnership had reached an advanced stage.

The debriefing provided an opportunity for the returning volunteers to present their experiences, achievements, challenges and recommendations, which NTAC said would serve as valuable input towards improving the implementation of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme.

The event also featured the presentation of certificates of service to the returning volunteers in recognition of their successful completion of the assignment.

Established in 1987, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps is a key instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy and South-South cooperation, deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide technical assistance, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen international partnerships.

With more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals deployed to beneficiary countries over the years, the Scheme continues to demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development, international cooperation and the use of professional expertise as an instrument of development diplomacy.

The successful completion of the Makerere University assignment by the seven volunteers further underscores the importance of the Scheme in fostering professional exchange, strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring that international exposure translates into tangible benefits for Nigeria’s development.

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