Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, OFR, has urged policymakers, community leaders, and private sector stakeholders to intensify efforts to empower young Nigerians, describing them as the “beating heart of our society.”
In a statement to mark International Youth Day, Ambassador Isola described the day as “a clarion call to invest meaningfully in the future architects of our world,” stressing that youths are not just leaders of tomorrow but “solution providers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and peace-builders of today.”
He lauded the energy, creativity, and courage of young Nigerians across education, business, technology, culture, and politics, but warned that their full potential could only be realised if challenges such as unemployment, poor access to quality education, gender inequality, and limited opportunities in governance are addressed.
“My advocacy for youth empowerment is rooted in the conviction that no nation can rise above the capacity of its young people,” he said. “When we empower young women equally alongside young men, we multiply the power of progress. A balanced society is a stronger society.”
Ambassador Isola called for greater mentorship, funding for youth-led ideas, and trust in young people to take on leadership roles, emphasising that the future “is here, and it is youthful.”
International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12 to celebrate the role of young people in driving change and to highlight the challenges they face.
