Within just one year of the summit, the YouthConnekt Nigeria delegation translated learning into measurable, high-impact action, collectively reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries, with broader indirect impact in the millions, representing Nigeria multilaterally at the UN General Assembly, the United Nations Development Coordination Office Africa and UNDP Africa Gen Z Pact for the Future regional youth workshop and UNFCCC high level climate change meetings like SB64. Delegates trained more than 5,000 youths in civic awareness and digital skills, empowered over 5,000 young people across 62 countries to access global opportunities, and engaged additional 10,000-plus youths through health education and advocacy campaigns. In public health, immunization efforts by the sponsored delegates reached over 2,500 children and 300 caregivers, HPV and adolescent health sensitization reached 400-plus individuals, and large-scale outreach programs recorded over 1,000 participants and 500 medical beneficiaries. 

UNDP Nigeria has matched this youth-led momentum with its own institutional milestones. Since the November 2024 YouthConnekt Africa Summit, the organization has launched the University Innovation Pods (UNIPODS) in Lagos, Nasarawa, and Abia -  innovation and digital hubs designed to equip young people with future-ready skills, with four additional pods currently underway, extending coverage across all six geopolitical zones of the country. Beyond UNIPODS, UNDP Nigeria has recorded several other significant accomplishments. The organization supported youth and civil society contributions to the development of Nigeria's NDC 3.0, ensuring that climate commitments reflect the voices of young people. It has continued to strengthen the Nigeria National Council on Climate Change's engagement with youth-led climate action, embedding intergenerational input into national policy. UNDP Nigeria has also expanded access to employability pathways through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme, digital and financial inclusion programming for young entrepreneurs and MSMEs, complementing the delegation's grassroots entrepreneurship work through Her AfTCA. Additionally, it has deepened partnerships with government ministries and international stakeholders to advance youth participation in governance, health policy, and economic planning, reinforcing Nigeria's broader commitment to inclusive, technology-enabled development.

Delegates returned from Rwanda with exposure to innovative approaches and an action plan. Since then, they have led and supported health education, digital literacy, trade and empowerment programs for underrepresented youth, partnering with the United Nations and community-based organizations on climate-smart eco-literacy programs, and community-based literacy initiatives tailored to underserved regions.

This International Youth Day reminds us all that while young people’s lives are shaped by different national and local realities, their aspirations are remarkably similar. Across countries and communities, young people seek dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education, and a sustainable future. The world envisioned will only be possible when technology, partnerships, and multilateral action are championed by and for young people. Africa's transformation lies in cooperation and collaboration, and UNDP Nigeria remains proud to be part of that collective journey.

“African young people are not just the future; they are the present”. In line with the powerful statement from Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, former UNDP's Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, the path forward requires moving from promise to practice, and with the right skills, partnerships, and platforms, a continent can be built where no young person is excluded from opportunity and can achieve their fullest potential.

Footnote: Edited by: Christabel Chanda-Ginsberg