A new report by an independent humanitarian non-profit organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has said that nearly 80 million Nigerian youths are unemployed, while over 1,500 schools have been shut in the past two years due to insecurity.

The organisation, while raising alarm over the worsening conditions confronting young people in the country, said the development had left about one million children out of school.

The document, titled “State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025,” presented in Abuja, yesterday, by the Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, Jonathan Abakpa, painted a troubling picture of wasted opportunities in a country where over 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30.

The report, produced in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, with contributions from policy and advocacy experts, was presented at the Nigerian youth dialogue in commemoration of the International Youth Day, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Youth in Parliament.

According to Abakpa, with more than 200 million people and one of the largest youth populations in the world, Nigeria should be a powerhouse of innovation and growth.

He, however, said that unemployment, insecurity, poverty, and poor infrastructure continue to weigh heavily on young people, warning that unless urgent action is taken, the country risks losing its greatest asset.

The report disclosed that each year, about 1.7 million graduates leave tertiary institutions, but jobs remain elusive.

It also noted how violence had crippled farming communities, revealing that over 77,000 lives had been lost to tribal conflicts in the last five years, while 2.6 million people, mainly from farming areas, had been displaced.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has urged youths to take full advantage of the administration’s youth-focused initiatives to realise their potential and make meaningful contributions to society.

Dare, who addressed over 24,000 young people at the Arise Congress 2.0, themed “The Emergence of Champions,” held at the Baptist International Convention Centre along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, described young Nigerians as the champions of Tinubu’s administration.

He noted that the President had rolled out several initiatives to empower youths through faith, talent, and skills, citing the NELFUND tuition loans and stipends, the renewed hope conditional cash transfer programme, and ongoing food security and poverty alleviation interventions.

Dare, who also chairs the Youth and Student Ministries Advisory Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, stressed the importance of character, discipline, determination, and self-motivation.

He said that his message was not political but an appeal for youths to embrace available opportunities and transform their communities positively.

The four-day congress, running from September 3-6, 2025, also had in attendance the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Adelani Akanji, among others. (The Guardian)