A senior official of the United Nations has cautioned that the continued exclusion of young people from governance and policy processes could undermine peace, stability, and sustainable development efforts globally.
Speaking at an interactive session with youths in Abuja, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, said governments and institutions risk policy failure if they fail to adapt to the realities of a rapidly growing youth population.
The event, themed “Open-Door Youth Engagement,” brought together youth-led organisations, young women’s groups, peacebuilders, innovators, students, professionals, persons with disabilities, and representatives of underserved communities for dialogue with government and UN officials.
Paullier noted that young people constitute the largest, most educated, and most interconnected generation in history—particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. However, he warned that this demographic advantage is being eroded by limited access to quality education and insufficient opportunities for meaningful participation in governance.
“Engaging young people in policy is not just an option—it is a condition if we want to achieve peace, stability, and effective solutions,” he said.
The UN official acknowledged a growing disconnect between policy formulation and real-world impact, describing efforts to bridge the gap as both complex and urgent. While frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals exist, he observed that implementation at the national level remains inconsistent.
He urged governments to move beyond rhetoric and adopt concrete measures that integrate youth perspectives into decision-making processes, adding that youth participation must be institutionalised rather than treated as symbolic engagement.
Paullier further warned that many policies fail due to poor sustainability and lack of adaptability, stressing the need for long-term strategies that embed youth engagement within governance, financing, and development planning.
With nearly half of the global population under the age of 30—and even higher proportions across Africa—he said the stakes are particularly high for countries on the continent.
The UN also called for increased investment in youth-driven innovation, highlighting the growing contributions of young Nigerians in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and the creative industry.
