The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Nigeria has urged a comprehensive, rights-focused approach to youth empowerment, emphasising the need to equip young people with quality education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities to foster sustainable development.
Marking International Youth Day 2025, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, called on governments and stakeholders to tackle urgent challenges facing Nigerian youth, including unemployment, economic hardship, and limited political participation.
“Young Nigerians are not just beneficiaries of development but deep thinkers, active innovators, mobilizers, and partners in shaping a future anchored on equity, dignity, and respect for human rights,” Ojukwu said.
He cautioned that despite their resilience and potential, many youths face obstacles such as underemployment, lack of mentorship, and increasing living costs. Economic uncertainty, poverty, and insecurity continue to threaten their well-being and fuel feelings of exclusion from key political and economic decisions.
Ojukwu further highlighted the particularly difficult circumstances of vulnerable young women and rural populations, where access to youth-friendly health services, including mental health and reproductive care, remains inadequate.
The NHRC Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to amplifying youth voices and ensuring their meaningful inclusion in policy-making consistent with national and international human rights commitments.
International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12, serves as a global reminder of the urgent need for collaboration to unlock the potential of young people as drivers of progress.
PIAK