Nigeria Youth SDGs Network

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Nigeria Youth SDGs Network which is registered as the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative is a youth led and youth serving civil society organization localizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals launched in April 2017.[1]

## Goal[edit]

The primary goals of the organization is to advocate for meaningful youth engagement[2] in the development of Nigeria by focusing of education and capacity development, employment and livelihoods and civic participation.

## The Network and the UN[edit]

The organization with funding from the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs worked with the International Labour Organization[3] and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports towards the revision of the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan (2021-2024).[4] The organization launched in August 2020 survey to understand the decent work aspirations of young Nigerians in the light of COVID-19 and how they want policymakers to support them.[4] More than 100,000 young people responded to the survey over a six weeks period.[2] This was followed by a youth validation workshop held across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.[5] The Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan was launched in September 2021[6] and is estimated to meet the decent work aspirations of 3.5 million young Nigerians annually.[7]

Following the launch of the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan, NGYouthSDGs with support from the International Labour Organization launched the Skills for Employment Programme, a seven weeks digital skills programme for youth age 18 to 29 whose education or livelihoods was impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. The programme focused on digital marketing, website development and graphics design with 90 young people in Adamawa, Benue and Lagos participating.[8][9]

As part of the mission of NGYouthSDGs in building the capacity of young Nigerians to advocate in policies and programs that will enable youth to lead and thrive, NGYouthSDGs with funding from the United Nations Information Centre trained 360 young people in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kwara,[10] Ondo and Rivers states on environmental and climate justice.[11][12]

## August 12 Celebration[edit]

Annually, the organization commemorates the International Youth Day on August 12 and uses that opportunity to showcase youth leading action for sustainable development while providing seed grants for youth social entrepreneurs.

### 2017[edit]

The first event was held in 2017 with the theme On the Road to Implementation.[6] This aimed at encouraging young people to collaborate and inspiring private sector and the government to work with youth.

### 2018 - 2019[edit]

In 2018 and 2019, the Youth Day was held across 21 states in Nigeria with the theme Amplifying Youth Voices.[1][13]

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, with the impact of COVID-19, the organization in partnership with Oxfam in Nigeria provided a grant of three hundred thousand naira ($833) to three organizations.

### 2021[edit]

In 2021, the organization supported three organizations in agriculture with seed funding of six hundred thousand naira ($1,666).[5]

### 2022[edit]

For the 2022 International Youth Day, NG Youth SDGs and Oxfam in Nigeria launched the Spotlight Awards to celebrate young people who are leading local action for the Sustainable Development Goals.[14][15][16]

### 2023[edit]

The Youth Day event with the topic "Working with and for Youth towards Achieving the SDGs" focused on the importance of intergeneration collaboration between youth and experienced leaders to bridge the generational gap to create decent jobs for youth.[17] The highlight of the event was the reveal of ten recipients of the Youth Spotlight Awards. The event highlighted the pivotal role of youth leadership in supporting a just transition to the green and digtal economy.[18]

In a bid to localize the Sustainable Development Goals, the organization created the SDGs Playbook which contains 200 actionable steps that people can take for SDGs action.[19] The organization is working with Mastercard Foundation to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in 25 communities across 10 states in Nigeria.[20] The organization has been recognized by the United Nations as an SDGs Good Practice.[1]

As part of Nigeria Youth SDGs thought leadership drive, the organization will be hosting a sustainability workshop at the 2022 One Young World Summit in Manchester in partnership with AdamStart.[21][22] During the event, it will share about the SDGs Playbook,[23] a resource material to activate youth action for the SDGs and providing funding for youth movement in Nigeria with support from VOICE.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Amplifying Youth Voices for Sustainable Community Development". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
2. ^ a b Alade, Joshua (2017-09-28). "Why we formed the Nigerian Youth SDGs Network". Blueprint Newspaper (Interview). Retrieved 2021-10-21.
3. ^ "About". The Nigerian Youth SDGs Network. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
4. ^ a b "ILO Scales up Employment Creation Opportunities in Nigeria with the launch of NIYEAP". www.ilo.org. 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
5. ^ a b "Over 800 youths give conditions ahead of NYEAP launch, implementation". Vanguard News. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
6. ^ a b "FG launches youth employment action plan". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
7. ^ "Fed Govt targets annual 3.7m jobs with Youth Employment scheme". The Nation. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
8. ^ "Nigeria Youth SDGs Provides Digital Skills to 90 Youth in Lagos, Others – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
9. ^ Oboh (2022-01-23). "SDGs Youth trains 90 from Adamawa, Benue, Lagos on digital skills". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
10. ^ Diamond 88.5. "A brand dedicated to enhancing radio experiences by providing stimulating conversations, entertainment, and great tunes to you dear listener and to audiences in Osun and its environs". Retrieved 2022-11-18.
11. ^ "To confront issues of climate change, Nigeria requires stronger commitment – SDGs Champion – Royal Times of Nigeria". Retrieved 2022-11-18.
12. ^ NNN (2022-10-27). "CoP27: NGYouthSDGs advocate stronger commitment to climate change, biodiversity". NNN. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
13. ^ "Nigerian Youth SDGs Network Commemorates International Youth Day with Youth Dialogue in 20 States" (Press release). 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2021-10-21 - via SMOOTH 98.1FM.
14. ^ "Nigerian Youths Call For Participation In Decision Making". Voice of Nigeria. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
15. ^ "ASUU strike bigger threat than COVID-19 - Youth group". Punch Newspapers. 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
16. ^ "'ASUU strike worse threat to Nigeria than COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war' The Nation Newspaper". 2022-08-16. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
17. ^ https://guardian.ng/news/group-makes-case-for-youths-in-governance-and-decision-making/. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
18. ^ https://www.thecable.ng/nigeria-cant-grow-economy-without-active-youth-participation-say-development-experts. `{{cite news}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
19. ^ "Student Resources". United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
20. ^ "Mastercard Foundation, others raise Covid-19 safety awareness". Punch Newspapers. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
21. ^ Daniels, Ajiri (2022-08-28). "OYW: AdamStart, NGYouthSDGs to host Summit workshop". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
22. ^ Samson, Benjamin (2022-08-25). "One young world summit: Youth groups to host leadership workshop in Manchester". Blueprint Newspapers. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
23. ^ Martin. "Student Resources". United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved 2022-08-31.

## External links[edit]

* Official website