A peacebuilding organisation, International Alert Nigeria, has called on young Nigerians to take ownership of their future by actively participating in peacebuilding, climate action and democratic processes.

The Country Director, Kingsley Udo, made the call in Abuja on Friday at the Young Change Makers Summit with the theme “Youth Leadership for Peace, Climate Resilience and Democratic Participation.”

Mr Udo explained that the event, organised with support from Irish Aid, was crucial given Nigeria’s large youth population, which represents a major opportunity for national development if properly supported.

He urged young Nigerians to take practical steps such as promoting peace, addressing environmental challenges, cleaning their communities and supporting vulnerable people.

He also urged the federal government, state governments and local councils to do more to support young people.

According to him, existing interventions by government and development partners are commendable but inadequate, considering the size of Nigeria’s youth population.

He said International Alert placed youth at the centre of its strategic plan because their energy and passion are critical to peace-building, social cohesion and climate resilience.

He acknowledged that young Nigerians face several barriers, including harassment, intimidation, shrinking civic space and inadequate opportunities to participate in decision-making.

However, he challenged youths not to wait for perfect conditions before taking action in their communities.

The country director said the same determination shown by some young people involved in criminal activities could be redirected toward productive, community-oriented causes.

“No youth can say that something is holding them back. There is an inner energy that comes with the word youth.

“There is something inside of you that will drive you. You are full of passion, and there is a lot you can do.

“Your system is hustling and bustling to do much. It is what you do that is the determinant factor at the end of the day,” he said.

He stressed the need to encourage young people as a country and build systems and structures that would make them thrive.

“How will the young people emerge and thrive if you don’t build enabling systems and structures? How will they emerge if you shut them down and don’t give them a voice?

“To be honest, any country that shuts its youth down suffers and will lose because they will export their skills to other places, change nationalities and take a second passport.

“But if we make an enabling environment and if we start encouraging them, if we start bolstering their energy, pushing them forward, getting them to do things, I tell you, they will do marvellously well,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Azeezat Yishau, a youth policy strategist, noted that young Nigerians have a strategic role to play in shaping the future of the country and Africa.

Ms Yishau said the summit highlighted the role of young people in climate action, peace-building and democratic participation.

She urged youths to move beyond complaining about challenges and begin to organise, engage and lead initiatives capable of producing positive changes in their communities.

According to her, insecurity and conflicts in different parts of the country have continued to affect education, access to opportunities and community development.

She, therefore, called for greater investment in young people as peace actors and champions of community development.

Also speaking, Augustine Ajijelek, Senior Technical Assistant (STA) to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, urged the youth to speak against actions that undermine the country’s well-being while respecting the law.

Mr Ajijelek said the government is implementing programmes to improve youth participation in the economy, adding that 18,000 youths had recently been trained in 14 different skills across the country.

He identified the skills as fashion design, welding and fabrication, electrical installation, and agricultural technology, with start-up kits and financial support to enable beneficiaries to establish businesses and become economically independent.

Earlier, Sunday Jimoh, programme manager, International Alert, said the summit brought together young change-makers from different parts of the country, including Sokoto, Benue, Zamfara, Rivers and Cross River.

Mr Jimoh explained that the summit had four major objectives, including strengthening dialogue between young people and government institutions on peace-building, governance and decision-making and promoting peer learning and collaboration among youth platforms.

Other objectives, he said, were to amplify young women’s leadership in mediation, peace-building and community resilience and to develop a youth call-to-action with policy recommendations and collaborative commitments.

According to him, the summit is not simply a gathering to celebrate young people but a platform for action and meaningful influence.

He urged policymakers to listen to young people’s experiences and incorporate their recommendations into policies and programmes.

Mr Jimoh also called on development partners and civil society organisations to invest more in youth-led initiatives and create platforms that would enable young people to exercise their leadership potential. 

(NAN)