The UN assistant secretary-general for youth affairs, Felipe Paullier, has urged governments at all levels to include young people in policymaking to drive sustainable development and peace.

Mr Paullier said this on Thursday in Abuja during a special youth engagement programme organised by the UN Information Centre as part of his official visit to Nigeria.

According to him, meaningful youth inclusion in policymaking will strengthen collaboration between young people and institutions and enhance participation in development programmes.

“Young people now constitute the majority in many countries, especially in developing nations. This is the largest generation of youth globally and also in Nigeria. It is also the most educated and interconnected generation, even though gaps in access to quality education still exist,” he said.

Mr Paullier stressed that engaging young people in policymaking was essential to developing effective policies that address their needs.

“Engaging young people in policymaking is not just an option; it is a condition if we want peace, stability and policies that effectively address youth-related issues,” he said.

He noted that global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future provided a roadmap for governments to ensure meaningful youth participation.

According to him, youth engagement is central to sustainability efforts, particularly as young people constitute a significant share of the global population.

“Half of the world’s population is under 30, and the proportion is even higher in Africa, where young people account for up to 70 per cent of the population in many countries,” he said.

Mr Paullier cited Nigeria as an example of how youth inclusion could boost economic growth, particularly in sectors such as the creative industry and agri-food systems.

The UN youth chief, who assumed office in December 2023 at the age of 32, is the first assistant secretary-general for youth affairs and one of the youngest senior officials in the organisation’s history. 

(NAN)