PRESS RELEASE
UN in tune with Nigeria’s Youth Activities Dashboard in High-Level Meeting with Youth Minister & Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery)”
The Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery) and the Honorable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Olawande Ayodele, held a technical meeting with the United Nations
Resident Coordinator, Mr. Malick Fall, alongside representatives from various UN agencies, including UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, and ILO.
Mr. Malick Fall warmly welcomed all participants and reaffirmed the UN’s continuous commitment to partnering with the Nigerian government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He acknowledged that Nigeria, with the highest youth population in Africa and possibly the world, must prioritize youth-focused policies and programs. Stressing the significance of accurate data collection, he expressed his satisfaction that this meeting was taking place, as data remains a crucial element for impactful policy implementation.
The Resident Coordinator highlighted key areas of youth participation, including leadership, economic empowerment, and digital transformation. He commended Nigerian youths for embracing and driving change, noting that the Youth Activities Dashboard (YAD) serves as a critical tool for transformation and transparency.
He said “With such a platform, we can strengthen the coordination of youth programs across government, across ministries, but also across development partners and stakeholders, enhancing efficiency and impact. Because efficiency and impact is something we often don’t speak about, but which is important. People talk about how much we spend on young people, how many programs we have regarding young people, what is the budget allocated for youth-related programs, but how the spending is efficient, how the spending is effective, and what kind of impact it makes on the young people, mainly the young people that have the more desire for change, the more need for change. This is something that is extremely important. It can also support, as I say, inclusivity, ensuring that persons with disabilities, persons who face particular vulnerabilities, are not left behind. The platform is also designed to help coordinate youth agendas, aligning them with national priorities and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Concluding his remarks, he quoted UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “The hope of the world rests upon the youth.”
The Honorable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Olawande Ayodele, appreciated the UN agencies for their partnership and addressed the challenges faced by Nigerian youths. He emphasized the need for collaboration between UN agencies and the Ministry to leverage data in tailoring opportunities and empowerment programs for Nigerian youth.
He also spoke about the upcoming Youth Confab, which will be held in collaboration with UN agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the voices of grassroots youth are heard and their concerns addressed. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of direct engagement with government and development partners, ensuring that youth initiatives are both visible and effective.
Comrade Olawande Ayodele said “The Youth Activities Dashboard is an initiative I am proud of because it enhances data-driven decision-making, amplify ongoing efforts, and directly address the needs of Nigerian youth”. He assured that the necessary structures are in place in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery), including the establishment of Youth Desk Officers in all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) housing youth initiatives.
Following the Minister’s address, the Special Assistant on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery) Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi provided an overview of the Youth Activities Dashboard (YAD). The presentation detailed its functions, identified gaps, and highlighted areas where development partners could collaborate.
Dr. Gbadamosi said, “The YAD will support the monitoring of youth projects across Nigeria, ensuring that states with limited youth interventions receive priority attention. We are here today to seek support from UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator along side other international agencies to collaborate and ensure additionally, that initiatives should be tailored to each state’s unique youth needs, and UN agencies’ interventions will be integrated into the platform for greater synergy”.
This meeting marks a significant step toward enhanced collaboration between the Nigerian government and the UN in driving youth development, ensuring data-driven interventions, and amplifying the impact of youth-focused initiatives nationwide.
