The United Nations has called for more inclusion and engagement of young people towards addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale, who made the call at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2023 Watch Party in Abuja, also said that the discussion gives an opportunity to amplify the voices of young people and their creative ideas towards building back better from the devastating pandemic as well as other challenges.
“The resolutions produced at ECOSOC’s Youth Forum will help shape the agenda for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development being held in July and the SDG Summit being held in September. These events are important stocktaking moments, and will help shape the course of action for rescuing the global development agenda 2030 and the associated SDGs. Nigeria’s young people must be effectively included in the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and programmes aimed at addressing the impacts of the pandemic and achieving the SDGs.”
Mr. Schmale noted that recently, “The UN and the Government of Nigeria together signed a Cooperation Framework which provides a five-year roadmap for UN efforts to accelerate progress towards the SDGs in partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.
“The Cooperation Framework is centered on people, planet, prosperity, and peace. The UN is committed to ensuring young people are meaningfully engaged and involved in the Cooperation Framework and its strategies for achieving the SDGs including climate, gender inequality, health, and education.”
He noted that Nigeria has its own share of internal challenges including the insurgency in the Northeast and the limited scope of the social protection system, which has made a significant portion of Nigeria’s young population more vulnerable, as evidenced by a 34.9% rate of youth unemployment and 20 million out-of-school children.
Adding that“If young generation can triumph, then so will Nigeria and the broader African continent. With a median age of 18, this country has one of the highest populations of young people in the world and will play a critical role in promoting sustainable development and achieving peace and prosperity on a global scale.”
The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ulla Muller, explained that despite the impact of COVID 19 on youths, they have continued to push forward, without giving up, however there is need for more support to sustain their efforts. “Despite how often we recognize young people, there is need to bring all of you together, there is need to engage you differently, there is need for us to support you differently, there is need to ensure that we have quality investment, the right investment made in order to secure your education, your health, your future and development, economic and social input. We cannot do that without meeting the SDGs.
“The SDGs is a shared agenda, an agenda where we have to take the young and the old along. It is important to amplify the message of the SDGs and the needed action to accelerate the SDGs. Therefore, you youth should hold us the leaders accountable as well as your selves.” Muller said
The participating youths at the forum also called for more involvement of young people in decision making process on issues of concerns and advocated for skills acquisitions and empowerment programmes to enable them contribute significantly to the growth and development of their country.
The theme of this year’s forum is “Accelerating the COVID recovery and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda with and for youths.”
