*INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2026: DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, COMMON ASPIRATIONS – A MESSAGE TO NIGERIAN YOUTH*
By Waliu Abdul (Solabetter)
National Youth Leader, The Progressive Group
"Build the Youth, Build the Nation."
My fellow Nigerian youth, today we join the global community in celebrating International Youth Day 2026 under the powerful theme: "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations."
This theme speaks directly to our reality as young Nigerians. We come from different tribes, religions, and economic backgrounds. We live in different contexts from the bustling streets of Lagos to the serene landscapes of the North, from the oil rich creeks of the Niger Delta to the farmlands of the East. Yet despite these differences, we share common aspirations. Dignity, quality education, meaningful employment, equal opportunities, and a sustainable future.
But aspirations without action remain mere dreams. Today, I stand before you to declare that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, these aspirations are being transformed into tangible reality. Because when you build the youth, you build the nation and this administration has taken that mantra to heart.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering results.
In less than four years, President Tinubu has demonstrated that he is not just a leader who speaks he is a leader who acts. His administration has pursued bold reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria's economy and strengthening national cohesion. From the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of foreign exchange rates to massive infrastructure expansion, this government has shown readiness to take difficult decisions in the national interest.
To our students and graduates. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over ₦282 billion in interest free loans to more than 1.5 million students across 288 tertiary institutions nationwide. Access to higher education is no longer determined by the circumstances of your birth. This administration has placed emphasis on technical and scientific education, with plans to upgrade polytechnics in each geopolitical zone to offer degree equivalent qualifications with added focus on skills acquisition. Build the youth, build the nation. Education is the foundation.
To our entrepreneurs and innovators. Through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) an ambitious national learning platform, the government is targeting 7 million youths with practical skills and digital empowerment, aiming to create over 5 million jobs. Start up grants of ₦1 million each for 200 youth led startups and ₦500,000 each for 100 beneficiaries in the informal sector have been announced. The NiYA Gig digital work platform is opening new pathways for innovation and income generation. Over 20 youth centred initiatives have been rolled out, covering digital skills, agriculture, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and the creative sector. Build the youth, build the nation. Enterprise is the engine.
To those seeking economic opportunity. Nigeria's GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025. The fastest pace in four years and ahead of IMF projections. Foreign reserves have climbed above $52 billion, reaching a 17 year high. The economy has grown from ₦309.5 trillion in 2023 to ₦441.5 trillion in 2025. Non oil revenue has surpassed oil earnings, a remarkable shift for a country that depended on crude exports for decades. A growing economy means growing opportunities for you, our young population.
To those who dream of a connected Nigeria.
The administration is constructing over 2,700 kilometres of highways and major roads. The 750 kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the 1,068 kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway stand as flagship projects that will yield high economic and tourism potential. These are not just roads, they are bridges to prosperity, connecting our regions and uniting our people.
To those who care about peace. President Tinubu has demonstrated remarkable commitment to peace-building and conflict resolution. His administration resolved the decades old Ogoni crisis, paving the way for renewed peace and the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland. The long running Malabu Oil dispute was settled, boosting investor confidence and increasing oil production capacity. In Plateau State, where ethno religious tensions have fuelled years of violence, the President brought together stakeholders for dialogue and reconciliation. Peace is the bedrock upon which we build our youth and our nation.
The theme of this year's International Youth Day reminds us that despite our different contexts, we share common aspirations. But aspirations must be nurtured, protected, and sustained. The progress we have witnessed under President Tinubu is not accidental, it is the product of deliberate reforms, courageous decisions, and an unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
My fellow young Nigerians, we cannot afford to go back. We cannot afford to abandon the reforms that are already yielding results. We cannot afford to jeopardize the opportunities that are opening up for our generation.
Continuity is not just a political choice, it is an economic necessity. It is a social imperative. It is our collective future.
President Tinubu has shown us that he believes in the power of youth. He has invested in our education, empowered our enterprises, and created pathways for our participation in governance. He has built the youth, and in doing so, he is building the nation.
Now, we must show him that we believe in his vision. We must mobilize, we must organize, and we must ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda continues beyond 2027.
Let us be the generation that completes what has been started. Let us be the youth that secures our own future by supporting the leader who has proven his commitment to us. Let us live by the creed that echoes from every youth assembly to every corner of this land.
Different contexts, but one common aspiration: a prosperous, united, and hopeful Nigeria.
Build the Youth. Build the Nation. Secure the Future.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu!
God bless the youth of our great nation!
Waliu Abdul (Solabetter)
National Youth Leader, The Progressive Group
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