As we mark International Youth Day on August 12, 2025, under the global theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” the Isonye Foundation joins the world in recognizing the immense potential of young people to drive sustainable development.
This year, we turn our spotlight to the unique challenges facing Nigerian youths, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, including PWDs, and explore practical pathways to unlock their full potential.
In a nation brimming with youthful energy—where over 60% of the population is under 25—empowering our young people isn’t just a goal; it’s essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like good health (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).
The Challenges Facing Nigerian Youths: A Call for Inclusion.
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Nigeria’s youths are a vibrant force, yet they navigate a landscape riddled with obstacles that hinder their growth and contributions. These challenges are not uniform; they intersect with factors like gender, disability, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, making an inclusive approach crucial.
Here’s a closer look at some key issues:
Unemployment and Economic Barriers: With youth unemployment hovering around 40%, many young Nigerians struggle to find meaningful work.
For youths with disabilities, this figure is even higher due to discrimination, lack of accessible workplaces, and limited vocational training.
Economic instability exacerbates poverty, pushing some into precarious gigs or migration, often at great personal risk.
Access to Quality Education and Skills Development:
While Nigeria has made strides in enrollment, dropout rates remain high, especially in rural areas and among girls. Youths with disabilities face additional hurdles, such as inaccessible school infrastructure, lack of assistive technologies, and societal stigma.
This results in a skills gap, leaving many unprepared for the digital economy or emerging industries like renewable energy and tech.
Health and Well-being Concerns:
Mental health issues, substance abuse, and limited healthcare access plague young people.
For PWDs, preventive and rehabilitative services are often out of reach, leading to compounded vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 aftermath and ongoing conflicts in regions like the Northeast have worsened mental health crises, with youths bearing the brunt.
Insecurity, Gender Inequality, and Social Exclusion:
Insecurity from insurgencies, banditry, and communal clashes disrupts lives and education. Gender-based violence affects young women disproportionately, while those from minority ethnic groups face discrimination.
For PWDs, these layers of exclusion amplify isolation, limiting participation in community and civic life.These challenges are interconnected, often rooted in systemic issues like corruption and inadequate policies.
However, they also present opportunities for local action, aligning with the 2025 IYD theme by empowering youths to lead SDG-focused initiatives in their communities.
What can we do?
Bridging the Gaps for Youth Empowerment:
To help Nigerian youths attain their full potential, we need actionable, inclusive strategies that involve governments, NGOs, communities, and youths themselves.
At Isonye Foundation, we’ve seen firsthand how targeted interventions can transform lives—through our programs empowering PWDs with digital skills, menstrual health education, and financial aid.
Enhance Inclusive Education and Skills Training:
Invest in accessible learning environments, including ramps, sign language interpreters, and adaptive tech for PWDs.
Governments and organizations should partner to offer free vocational programs in high-demand fields like ICT, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
To cite an example, fommunity-led workshops where youths with and without disabilities collaborate on SDG projects, fostering skills like coding or sustainable farming will be of profitable value. This not only builds employability but also promotes empathy and inclusion.
Promote Youth-Led Health and Well-Being Initiatives:
Expand access to inclusive healthcare by integrating mental health services into schools and youth centers.
How about launching peer-support networks where young people train as advocates, addressing stigma around disabilities and mental health? It will sure bring the goal into reality. Aligning with SDG 3, this could include apps for remote consultations, making healthcare reachable in remote areas.
Foster Economic Opportunities and Entrepreneurship:
Provide seed funding and mentorship for youth startups, with quotas for underrepresented groups like women and PWDs. Policies should mandate inclusive hiring practices in the private sector.
Way Forward: Establish youth innovation hubs in urban and rural areas, offering low-interest loans and business training.
Success stories from our collaborations, like empowering deaf women with digital skills (graphic designing) for online ventures, show how this leads to self-reliance and community impact.
Strengthen Policy Advocacy and Community Engagement:
Youths must be at the decision-making table—through forums where they influence policies on security, gender equality, and disability rights. NGOs like Isonye Foundation can amplify their voices via campaigns and partnerships.
This can also be achieved by organizing local SDG action groups that tackle issues like climate change (SDG 13) or inequality, using social media for advocacy.
Build Partnerships for Sustainable Impact:
Governments with NGOs, private companies with communities. International support can fund scalable programs, but local ownership ensures relevance.
By implementing these strategies, we can create a Nigeria where youths not only survive but thrive, contributing to the SDGs and beyond.
A Message from Isonye Foundation: Join the Movement
On this International Youth Day, Isonye Foundation recommits to empowering Nigerian youths, especially PWDs, through inclusive healthcare and beyond. We’ve witnessed transformations—like young women gaining confidence through our skills programs—but there’s more to do.
We invite you to partner with us: Donate, volunteer, or spread the word. Together, let’s turn challenges into opportunities, ensuring every youth can reach their full potential.
Happy International Youth Day.
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