The Country Director, International Alert Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Udo, has urged government and other critical stakeholders to create systems that will enable young Nigerians to thrive, stressing that individual determination must be supported by an enabling environment.
Udo made the call at the Young Change Makers Summit themed “Youth Leadership for Peace, Climate Resilience and Democratic Participation”, organised by International Alert Nigeria with support from Irish Aid in Abuja.
Udo charged Nigerian youths to take greater responsibility for driving positive change in their communities, saying they possess the energy and capacity to shape the country’s future.
He urged young Nigerians not to allow prevailing challenges to discourage them from taking action but to “move beyond asking who is holding them back and identify what they can do to improve their communities.”
Udo cited the initiative and determination demonstrated by youths involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities, urging them to channel similar energy into productive ventures.
“Youth is a stage in a lifetime that is a precious gift. It is a time when you are full of energy and passion. There is a lot you can do,” he said.
He, however, stressed that individual determination must be supported by an enabling environment, with government and other stakeholders creating systems that allow young Nigerians to thrive.
“If you don’t build systems and structures that will make these young people emerge, if you shut them down, you don’t give them voice and agency; how will they emerge?” he asked.
Udo warned that failure to create opportunities for young people could lead to loss of valuable skills as youths seek opportunities abroad, change nationalities or acquire second passports.
While acknowledging government initiatives and collaborations with development partners targeting young people, he said more needed to be done, given Nigeria’s large youth population.
Also speaking, Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs on Poverty Reduction, Agustin Ajijelek, urged youths to use their voices responsibly and speak against actions detrimental to national wellbeing while respecting existing laws.
Ajijelek said 18,000 youths had recently been trained in 14 skills, including fashion design, welding and fabrication, electrical installation and agricultural technology, with beneficiaries receiving start-up kits and financial support to establish businesses.
A Youth Policy Strategist and keynote speaker,
, underscored youths’ strategic role in addressing climate change, peace-building and democratic development.
She urged young Nigerians to move beyond complaints and organise themselves to engage meaningfully with issues affecting their communities, noting that insecurity and conflict could disrupt education, economic opportunities and access to essential services.
Earlier, International Alert Programme Manager, Sunday Jimoh, said youths from Sokoto, Benue, Zamfara, Rivers, Cross River and other states had continued peace-building and community development activities despite insecurity.
“When young people have the skills, networks, platforms and opportunities to lead, they can become powerful catalysts for positive change,” he said.
Jimoh said the summit was “not simply a gathering to celebrate young people” but a platform for action and meaningful influence.
