Nigeria's Youth Policy Needs Urgent Structural Reform

Ajayi Taiwo, the director of youth advocacy at the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has raised concerns regarding the fragmented state of Nigeria's youth policy. He described the current architecture as lacking coherence, with various youth-focused programs spread across multiple ministries and agencies operating without proper coordination.

Taiwo emphasized that Nigeria, being one of the youngest countries with half its population under 30, must prioritize a unified youth policy to stabilize the economy. He warned that without structural reforms, government programs risk duplicating efforts and misallocating resources, which could limit their long-term impact, particularly in job creation and entrepreneurship.

Taiwo proposed the establishment of a unified national youth framework to integrate youth-focused policies and ensure strategic alignment across federal and state levels. He also recommended transparent tracking of youth-related expenditures and annual impact assessments to enhance accountability and legitimacy in policy formulation.

The NYCN continues to advocate for reforms to improve policy coherence and strengthen youth participation in governance.