The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has called on young Nigerians to take a leading role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.
During a dialogue at the UN House in Abuja to mark International Youth Day 2025, Olawande highlighted the importance of moving beyond “token participation” to genuine youth leadership.
The dialogue, held with Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, focused on “Youth Action on SDGs and Beyond.”
Olawande celebrated the creativity and resilience of Nigerian youth who are already implementing SDG initiatives within their communities, citing examples from grassroots climate action to tech-driven solutions in education and healthcare.
“Today’s dialogue is not just about speeches; it’s about listening,” he said, assuring young people that their voices are already influencing government policy and will be incorporated into the Ministry’s programmes.
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The Minister also praised Nigerians who have achieved global recognition, such as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and UN Global Ambassador for Peace Maryam Bukar, as role models for how young Nigerians can impact international policy.
In his own remarks, Fall reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to partnering with Nigerian youth, whom he described as “the future happening now.”
He applauded the Minister’s efforts to champion youth empowerment and emphasized Nigeria’s large youth population as a strategic advantage for advancing peace, development, climate solutions, and justice.
“Youth are not just beneficiaries, youth are partners. Youth are leaders,” Fall stated, encouraging them to “speak up, show up, and lead on.”
