NTYTP Urges United National Action On Youth Empowerment And Protection Ahead Of International Youth Day 2025

The Not Too Young To Perform (NTYTP) Leadership Development Advocacy, a registered non-governmental organisation committed to raising performing young leaders across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, has issued a nationwide call to action for all tiers of government, corporate organisations, and policymakers to embrace the official theme for the 2025 International Youth Day — “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” — alongside the event-specific focus, “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships.”

In a statement signed by the NTYTP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Mikail Audu, the organisation emphasised that these themes are not abstract slogans but urgent mandates that demand real, coordinated, and measurable action from both state and non-state actors. According to the NGO, the essence of International Youth Day 2025 speaks directly to Nigeria’s current realities, where the nation’s youthful population represents both its greatest asset and its most at-risk demographic.

The statement noted that the NTYTP’s mission of developing transformational young leaders through advocacy, training, and inclusion aligns perfectly with the call for localised action on the Sustainable Development Goals and the use of technology and partnerships to foster cooperation. However, he warned that the effectiveness of these efforts is being severely undermined by the escalating threats to the safety of Nigerian youths, particularly the girl-child and young women.

The NTYTP expressed grave concern over the disturbing rise in abductions, exploitation, disappearances, and killings of young women across the country, many of which occur in hotels and other public spaces. These incidents, it said, reflect a troubling gap in security awareness, preventive education, and institutional response, creating an unsafe environment for young Nigerians to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“In direct response to this crisis, as the government alone cannot do everything, NTYTP is formally announcing the launch of its National Youth Safety and Security Summit, an ambitious nationwide intervention aimed at building a culture of safety consciousness and proactive security engagement among young people.

“The summit will be inaugurated in Abuja and will bring together senior government officials, security agencies, youth and women leaders, academics, students, civil society groups, and development partners. It will provide a platform for open dialogue, training, and strategic collaboration on security awareness, digital safety, and risk management.

“Following the national launch, the summit will cascade into state-level campaigns and grassroots engagements across all 36 states and the FCT, with special outreach to schools, community-based organisations, women’s groups, and at-risk communities. Over the next three years, the initiative will also extend to 185 tertiary institutions nationwide, where safety clubs will be formed and the NTYTP Safety and Security Handbook for the Girl-Child and Young Women will be distributed as a national reference tool.

“The handbook, which will be developed through contributions from security experts, survivors, community leaders, and young people themselves, will serve as a practical and youth-friendly guide to personal, public, and digital safety. It will be officially unveiled at a national dinner and award night that will also celebrate institutions, partners, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to youth protection in Nigeria.

“The NTYTP is extending an open invitation to federal, state, and local governments, as well as to corporate bodies, civil society organisations, the media, and development partners, to join as strategic collaborators in this landmark initiative. Partnerships may include endorsements, resource contributions, technical expertise, institutional mobilisation, and participation in both the handbook’s development and the summit’s implementation.

Comrade Audu stressed that “the National Youth Safety and Security Summit is not just an event but the beginning of a sustained national movement to safeguard the lives and aspirations of Nigeria’s youth. By uniting behind the vision of this year’s International Youth Day and translating it into practical programmes that address the most pressing threats to young people so that the country can collectively create an environment where every Nigerian youth — especially the girl-child and young women — can achieve their full potential, contribute to sustainable development, and help build a safer, stronger, and more inclusive nation”, the statement concluded.

The International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 annually.