2026 IYD: WANEP Urges Increased Investment in Youth Leadership for Peace and Sustainable Development

2026 IYD: WANEP Urges Increased Investment in Youth Leadership for Peace and Sustainable Development

 Habiba Aniekan Sam 

The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP-Nigeria, has called on government, development partners and other stakeholders to commit more resources to youth leadership, education, innovation and civic engagement as a pathway to lasting peace and national development.

The appeal was contained in a statement released to mark the "2026 International Youth Day", with the global theme: Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.

According to WANEP-Nigeria, although young people across Nigeria grow up in diverse social, economic and political realities, they share the same hopes: peace, dignity, access to quality education, decent jobs, meaningful inclusion in governance, and a sustainable future.

The organization noted that young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 make up more than half of the country’s population. Over the years, they have played active roles in peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, climate action, humanitarian work, technology, and community development.

“Despite the different environments they find themselves in, Nigerian youths have continued to show that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today,” the statement read.

However, WANEP-Nigeria highlighted that many young people still grapple with serious challenges. These include high rates of unemployment, insecurity, inequality, spread of misinformation, and limited access to platforms where they can influence policies and decisions.

“Even in the face of these obstacles, young Nigerians have remained resilient. They continue to organize, innovate, and push for stronger, more peaceful and inclusive communities,” the organization said.

The statement also spotlighted WANEP-Nigeria’s ongoing work to promote the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, and related resolutions.

The organization said it has broadened its outreach to universities across the country through awareness campaigns, public lectures, policy dialogues, and strategic partnerships. The aim, it explained, is to help students better understand the role of youth in preventing conflict and building peace.

Speaking on the significance of the day, the National Coordinator of WANEP-Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe, said International Youth Day offers a moment to acknowledge young people’s contributions and to create better conditions for them to thrive.

“Young people may come from different backgrounds and face different realities, but their aspirations are the same. They want peace, opportunity, inclusion, and a better future for all,” Dr. Osakwe stated.

She added that Nigerian youths are already leading change in their communities, and that deliberate investment in them will yield a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous Nigeria.

WANEP-Nigeria therefore urged federal and state government institutions, development partners, the private sector, universities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society groups to scale up investments in youth leadership development, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic participation.

The organization stressed that providing inclusive opportunities for young people to take part in decision-making is not optional. It is critical to achieving the 'Sustainable Development Goals' and to securing long-term stability for the country.

“As we mark International Youth Day 2026, let us move beyond rhetoric. Let us invest in the potential of our youth. That is the surest way to build a Nigeria where peace and development are sustainable,” WANEP-Nigeria concluded.