As a globally recognized event, the world on Wednesday 12th August, 2020, celebrated the International Youth Day (IYD), a programme that gives young people voices and opportunity to celebrate, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement, endorsed by the United Nation World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youths.

What is, however, of interest to development minded individuals is that the theme of this year’s celebration; “Youth Engagement for Global Action” largely highlighted the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels could enrich national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.


Indeed, separate from the fact that the future strength of every nation depends on its young people as their generation will provide the next leaders, this year’s celebration becomes more admirable and deserves our praise when one remembers that youths of Africa extraction and Nigeria in particular, despite occupying in recent times top striking diplomatic positions and development affairs mid fields at the world stage are back home dishearteningly and helplessly relegated to the background in the scheme of political and socioeconomic affairs of their nation. They (the youths) are often made to watch the political and leadership affairs of their nation from the political gallery.