The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Monday said youths in the North-East are often excluded from major economic, political, and governance decisions within the region.
Speaking at the 3rd edition of the North-East Youth in Crisis Conference in Maiduguri, the Localisation Adviser with UNOCHA, Christopher Agutu, called for stronger collaboration between the government and young people to foster productive dialogue and inclusive development.
“In the North-East, one thing we feel needs to be addressed is the fact that youths have been missing from the discussion table. They are not seated where people are making decisions. They need to be carried along—to understand what the government expects from them and also to explain to the government and other stakeholders what they need,” he said.
Agutu noted that Nigeria’s youthful population presents enormous potential that, if harnessed, could enhance self-reliance and drive national growth.
“When we look at existing technology and the number of young people in Nigeria and across Africa—about 103 million adolescents in Nigeria alone—they are the biggest users of modern technologies, especially social media platforms. The skills of these youths can be harnessed to benefit themselves and the nation, provided they are supported and guided by government and relevant stakeholders,” he added.
He further urged youths to engage in constructive and respectful advocacy based on critical reasoning and dialogue rather than confrontation.
“Advocacy is not about fighting physically or demanding a seat at the table by force. It’s about engaging meaningfully and sharing your ideas so that those already at the table understand your needs and vision. Disorganization or aggression is not the best way to advocate. Instead, present your ideas respectfully and show how they can contribute to nation-building,” he emphasised.
Agutu also cautioned youths against self-exclusion from opportunities, stressing the need for action-oriented advocacy.
“It’s not enough to demand income or employment and then stay at home. As a youth, you must take the initiative—apply for jobs and show up for opportunities. Sometimes, you won’t be invited; you just have to go there yourself. Don’t wait until the governor calls you,” he advised.
Also speaking, the Programme Specialist for Humanitarian Resilience at ActionAid Nigeria, David Habba, said the conference aimed to raise awareness about the importance of involving North-East youths in shaping the region’s humanitarian and development agenda.
“At ActionAid, we are very concerned about how young people are engaged and what roles they play. The future of this world lies in the lives of young people. If we do not mobilize or support them, it simply means there is no future for our race,” he said.
Habba explained that the annual conference—organised by ActionAid—focuses this year on the theme ‘Reset’, emphasizing the need to include youths in shaping the future of humanitarian action.
“From 2026 onwards, the humanitarian architecture, funding, and coordination will change. But what we see is that the conversation does not include young people. If you are planning for young people and they are not at the table, then who are you planning for?
So, this year, we are saying there should be no ‘reset’ of the humanitarian space without involving young people. They must be at the centre of determining what the next ten to twenty years of humanitarian response will look like,” he said.
One of the participants, David Joy, expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the event as “an eye-opener” on how youths can demand their rights constructively through dialogue and engagement.
