2026 Int'l Youth Day: Stakeholders Urge Institutions to Give Youths Greater Role in Policy, Devt

Development partners and academic leaders have called for greater youth participation in policy formulation, institutional decision-making and national development,.

They stressed that young people must be empowered not only as beneficiaries of development but also as active drivers of change.

The call was made during a courtesy visit by youth development stakeholders to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), Professor J.U.J. Onwumere, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day.

Leading the delegation, Director of the Youth Friendly Resources Centre (UNEC), Professor Ijeoma Arodiwe, advocated alternative and innovative approaches to education that would integrate youth-led development policies into formal academic programmes.

Prof. Arodiwe commended the university management for its continued support for youth-focused initiatives and announced an upcoming two-day youth development workshop being organised in collaboration with the Golden Heart Foundation, GLO Network and other partners.

The programme, themed “Youth in Action: Driving Innovation & Building Healthy Futures,” is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to become effective leaders and contributors to society.

According to her, the workshop will feature keynote presentations, entrepreneurship and innovation sessions, leadership and health education, career development sessions, exhibitions and a youth rally.

She stressed that meaningful youth development requires moving beyond conventional classroom learning to create opportunities for young people to develop practical skills, participate in civic processes and contribute directly to policies affecting their future.

Responding, Prof. Onwumere reaffirmed the university’s commitment to preparing students for leadership, entrepreneurship and self-reliance, noting that education must equip young people to succeed beyond the classroom.

He emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship, policy engagement and legitimate wealth creation, urging young Nigerians to embrace hard work, innovation and productive enterprise.

Prof. Onwumere further noted that the University of Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of entrepreneurial education dating back to the 1960s and remains committed to empowering students to become solution providers and responsible leaders.

He added that the current administration, under Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Otuanya, is pursuing a rescue mission aimed at strengthening the institution and upholding its founding philosophy and motto: “To Restore the Dignity of Man.”

The stakeholders said the International Youth Day activities provide an opportunity for institutions, government and development partners to move from discussions about youth empowerment to concrete actions that place young people at the centre of policy, innovation and sustainable development.