As the world marks International Youth Day 2026 under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Wing, under the leadership of the National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to participate, lead, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
In a message commemorating the occasion, Dr. Dayo Israel described young people as indispensable partners in shaping the Nigeria of today and building the nation’s future, stressing that youth should no longer be viewed merely through the lens of potential, but recognised for the ideas, creativity, innovation, leadership and contributions they are already bringing to society.
“Young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are partners in shaping the Nigeria of today. Our responsibility is to create the opportunities, platforms, and pathways through which their ideas can become impacted.”
The theme of this year’s International Youth Day, he noted, reflects a shared reality across generations and societies: while young people may live in different countries, communities and circumstances, they remain united by common aspirations for opportunity, dignity, inclusion, meaningful participation and a better future.
In Nigeria, the increasing participation of young people in civic and democratic processes further underscores the need to create meaningful avenues for youth engagement. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,836,995 Nigerians aged 18 to 34, representing 68.83 percent of completed registrations, had completed online and physical registration in the Commission’s Phase II, Week 15 update of the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise as of April 28, 2026.
The APC National Youth Wing, however, maintains that youth engagement must go beyond celebrating young people on a designated day. It must translate into sustainable platforms that enable young Nigerians to ask questions, exchange ideas, acquire relevant skills, access opportunities, engage policymakers, and participate meaningfully in public life.
Under Dr. Dayo Israel’s leadership, the National Youth Wing has continued to pursue this philosophy through youth-focused conversations, leadership development programmes, policy engagements, fellowships and empowerment initiatives designed to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge, networks and opportunities required to contribute to national development.
The Renewed Hope Conversations, including the Campus Policy Dialogue at the University of Abuja, have provided young Nigerians with platforms to engage directly with issues of public policy, governance, leadership and national development. Through these engagements, young people have had opportunities to ask questions, interact with public officials, and connect national policies with the realities and aspirations of their generation.
Similarly, the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship (MAELF), organised in collaboration with the Dam Foundation, has created a platform for young Nigerians interested in energy leadership, innovation and Nigeria’s energy transition to develop ideas, strengthen leadership capacity and contribute to conversations shaping the future of the energy sector.
The Youth Wing has also continued to broaden access to youth-focused opportunities through initiatives such as the SWIP App, its community engagement platform, and the Zacch Adedeji Taxation and Fiscal Policy Fellowship, providing young Nigerians with additional pathways to connect, acquire knowledge and skills, engage with public policy and prepare for leadership and professional opportunities across diverse sectors.
Beyond political and civic engagement, Dr. Dayo Israel is also the Convener of the Mummy’s Men Movement, an independent national initiative promoting responsible fatherhood, positive masculinity, family values, and the active participation of men in building stronger families and communities.
According to the National Youth Leader, these initiatives are driven by a broader philosophy of youth development: that young people must not be treated merely as beneficiaries of programmes, but as partners, stakeholders and co-creators of the future they seek to build and inherit.
Dr. Israel therefore reaffirmed the commitment of the APC National Youth Wing to ensuring that young Nigerians are heard, engaged, equipped and empowered to lead, while calling on governments, institutions, political organisations, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to create more pathways for meaningful youth participation and leadership.
“The future of Nigeria can not be built for young people without young people. We must move from speaking about youth to building with youth; from preparing young people for leadership to creating spaces where they can exercise leadership today. Their voices matter, their ideas matter, and their participation matters.”
The Office of the National Youth Leader also encouraged young Nigerians to take ownership of their voices, ideas and communities; participate responsibly in civic and democratic processes; and continuously develop the knowledge, skills, values and networks required to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.
The APC National Youth Wing congratulates young people across Nigeria and around the world on the occasion of International Youth Day 2026, and reiterates its commitment to building a generation of young Nigerians who are not only prepared for the future but are actively shaping the present.
Different Contexts. Common Aspirations. Shared Responsibility.
