The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has reiterated commitment to strengthening peacebuilding efforts through youth-centred programmes and partnerships, calling for a more coordinated and youth-centered approach to peacebuilding.
The Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO to Nigeria, Dr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, made the call in Abuja, at a Strategic Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Guidelines for Youth-Focused Peacebuilding, to chart a sustainable pathway toward addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Dr. Abiaga, emphasised that building lasting peace requires deliberate investment in young people,.
He stressed that youth-focused peacebuilding was no longer optional in a country with a rapidly growing young population.
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“With 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population below the age of 30, young people remain central to meaningful peace. Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed. This means that youth-centred peacebuilding is not only timely, is not optional, it is non-negotiable, if we are to achieve sustainable development goal 16 and other Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
According to him, UNESCO has continued to promote peace through education, intercultural dialogue, and youth empowerment programmes, including the Global Citizenship Education initiative and the recently launched Youth for Peace: Intercultural Leadership Programme.
Specific Interventions
He highlighted Nigeria-specific interventions such as interfaith dialogue frameworks, youth masterclasses, and the National Peace Education Initiative launched in 2025.
Despite these several interventions, he acknowledged that Nigeria continued to experience rising insecurity.
He said that the situation shows that stakeholders must work more closely together and involve young people directly in designing peace solutions.
According to him, “the reality before us, school closures, abductions, displacement, tells us that we are yet to find sustainable solutions. We must ask ourselves: What kind of peace can we achieve if we fail to realise the central role of youth in violent conflicts and co-create solutions with them? How much peace can we achieve, if young people are not at the center of it?, and if we continue to work in silos without effective guidelines?”
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the dialogue as both timely and necessary.
He noted that young people must be seen as partners rather than mere beneficiaries of peace.
Ayodele underscored the urgency of engaging Nigeria’s large youth population in peacebuilding processes.
“With over half of our population under the age of 30, Nigeria’s youth are not just beneficiaries of peace, they are powerful agents of transformation. Sustainable peace is not achieved by exclusion, but through inclusion. When young people are given a voice and their ideas are taken seriously, they become catalysts for unity, innovation and resilience,” he said.
The Minister, who was represented by a Director of the Ministry, Lami Bature, acknowledged that unemployment, limited access to education and social marginalisation continue to affect many young Nigerians, noting that such challenges could increase vulnerability to conflict if not properly addressed.
“If properly managed, these challenges present opportunities for engagement, empowerment, and positive change,” he stated.
Promote Youth Participation
He further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to policies that promote youth participation in governance, conflict prevention and peacebuilding programmes.
The Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, stressed the importance of engaging young people in peace initiatives, describing them as architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow.
He further called for a shift in how young people are perceived in the peace and security discourse.
“For too long, young people have been viewed through a lens of risk, as victims or instruments of instability.
“We must recognize them as architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Dr. Ochogwu, represented by the Director External Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Dr. Babatunde Olalekan noted that while Nigeria has made progress in Peace and Security, through the development of a National Action Plan on Youth, awareness campaigns, policy advocacy and capacity-building programmes, implementation remains uneven across states.
“Policy on paper is not peace on the ground. With only three of the 36 states localising the Youth, Peace and Security Action Plan, our mission is clear, we must take the agenda from the Federal Capital to the grassroots, ensuring that every state localizes and implements these frameworks,” he said.
He further highlighted the link between economic hardship and insecurity, noting that unemployment among youth remains a critical concern.
“A hungry young person is not just vulnerable—they are at risk of exploitation by extremist groups. Peace is built not only in conference rooms but in communities. And young people must lead that process,” he added.
In a presentation on understanding the Political, Economic, demographic and social cultural dimension of youth vulnerability to security and conflict in Nigeria.
Dr. Kingsley Udegbunam of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, emphasised the urgent need to reposition young people at the center of peacebuilding efforts in Nigeria, describing them as architects of today rather than leaders of tomorrow.
“Tomorrow is an endless time. When you say youth are leaders of tomorrow, you are postponing building their capacity. But if you acknowledge that they can start leading today, it keeps you on your toes,” he explained.
Youth Exclusion
Addressing the issue of youth exclusion from decision-making processes, Dr. Udebunu criticised the tendency to discuss youth matters without their involvement.He, however, acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve inclusion while calling for broader participation.
“You cannot shave somebody’s head in his absence. When people talk about youth without including them at the table, it undermines the entire process. Some youths are already part of the process, which is a good step. But the net must be widened to involve more, especially during implementation. Without them at the center of peacebuilding, we are wasting our time,” he added.
As discussions continue, stakeholders expressed optimism that a unified approach, anchored on youth inclusion, could redefine Nigeria’s peacebuilding trajectory.
The dialogue is expected to produce actionable recommendations that will inform national policies and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
The dialogue brought together government officials, development partners, civil society actors, and youth leaders.
It was organised by the UNESCO, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).