Nigerian youth groups have urged the Federal Government to institutionalize youth representation and accountability mechanisms across major youth-focused initiatives, including the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), and Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
At a joint press conference held in Abuja on Friday to commemorate the 2025 National Youth Day, representatives of leading youth organisations commended the government for its efforts to empower young Nigerians but stressed that meaningful youth participation is crucial to ensure the programmes’ effectiveness and transparency.
The youth leaders — Haruna Godiya of LEAP Africa; Paul Oladipupo of Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative; Nafisa Atiku of NAF Foundation for Young Women; Maimuna Sani of Youth for Community Engagement Coordination, Nigeria Youth Futures Fund; Samira Usman of S4Television; and Dr. Onyeche Agbiti-Douglas, Project Director of Nigeria Youth Futures Fund — jointly called for co-creation and structured youth involvement in all government interventions targeted at young people.
“These initiatives represent important steps toward tackling unemployment, expanding educational access, and enhancing digital skills. However, for these interventions to achieve their intended impact, they must be co-created with youth,” they said. “We therefore urge the Federal Government to institutionalize youth representation and accountability mechanisms within these programmes — including a Youth Advisory Body for NELFUND — to ensure transparency, responsiveness, and equitable access.”
The youth organisations, speaking under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive development, open governance, and youth-driven national transformation.
They noted that with over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under 30, young people are already driving innovation, advocacy, and social impact across sectors — from peace-building and entrepreneurship to technology and sustainability.
“No sustainable progress can occur without youth leadership and inclusion,” they declared, calling on government and partners to move from rhetoric to genuine collaboration.
They further urged:
-
Full implementation and periodic review of the National Youth Policy, backed by funding, transparency, and youth-led monitoring;
-
Institutionalization of open governance frameworks, including participatory budgeting, youth advisory councils, and digital accountability platforms;
-
Increased investment in youth innovation, digital skills, and community development to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The coalition concluded by appealing to all stakeholders — government, private sector, civil society, and international partners — to engage youth not merely as beneficiaries but as co-creators of solutions for Nigeria’s sustainable future.
