The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace available opportunities and contribute meaningfully to national development as the country joins the rest of the world to mark International Youth Day 2026.
Olawande made the call in a message shared on his official X account on Wednesday, where he celebrated the resilience, creativity, enterprise and contributions of young Nigerians to the growth of the country.
The minister said the global theme for this year’s International Youth Day is “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships,” while Nigeria’s national theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
According to him, the theme reflects the shared aspirations of young Nigerians for opportunities, meaningful livelihoods, inclusion and national development despite differences in their backgrounds, communities and circumstances.
He said such aspirations must remain central to Nigeria’s development agenda and guide efforts to empower young people across the country.
Olawande said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, was expanding opportunities for young Nigerians through skills development, entrepreneurship, employment and economic inclusion initiatives.
He listed some of the programmes as the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), NiYA StartUp, NiYA Gigs, YouthCred, Youth Help Desk and the Youth in Agribusiness Land Trust Fund.
The minister said the initiatives reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring that young Nigerians become active participants and drivers of national development rather than mere beneficiaries of government programmes.
He urged youths to remain hopeful, purposeful and prepared to take advantage of available opportunities while investing in skills, innovation and knowledge.
Olawande also encouraged young Nigerians to build partnerships and deploy their voices, talents and creativity to address challenges in their communities and contribute to nation-building.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to listening to young Nigerians, collaborating with them and creating pathways through which their ideas, talents and aspirations could become realities.
Describing Nigerian youths as the nation’s greatest strength, the minister stressed the need to transform their potential into sustainable progress and prosperity.
He congratulated Nigerian youths on International Youth Day and urged them to remain committed to building the Nigeria they desire.
