The Marcus Odianose Ughulu Foundation for Peace and Sustainable Development (MOUFPSD) joins young people, governments, civil society organisations, development partners and communities across Nigeria, Africa and the world to commemorate International Youth Day 2026, under the theme:
“Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
The theme is a powerful reminder that while young people live in vastly different social, economic, political and cultural circumstances, we are united by common aspirations for peace, dignity, quality education, decent work, inclusion, meaningful participation and a sustainable future.
MOUFPSD recognises young people as not merely beneficiaries of development, but critical partners, innovators, peacebuilders and leaders in shaping the present and future of our societies.
Across Nigeria and Africa, young people continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and creativity in the face of unemployment, insecurity, inequality, climate change, educational barriers, digital exclusion and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in governance and decision-making.
These challenges must not become a justification for excluding young people. Rather, they should strengthen our collective determination to invest in, empower and create meaningful opportunities for the continent’s largest and most dynamic demographic.
MOUFPSD therefore calls on governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society, traditional and religious institutions, and other stakeholders to move beyond tokenistic youth engagement and embrace meaningful, sustained and measurable youth participation in policies, programmes and decisions that directly affect their lives and futures.
We particularly call for:
1. Greater investment in quality and inclusive education and skills development;
2. Expanded opportunities for decent employment, entrepreneurship and innovation;
3. Stronger youth participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and democratic processes;
4. Increased investment in young people’s leadership and civic engagement;
5. Greater access to digital technology and the opportunities of the digital economy;
6. Stronger action to address climate change and its disproportionate impact on young people;
7. Protection of young people’s rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms; and
8. Institutional platforms that enable young people to participate as equal partners in national and community development.
For Nigeria, this is especially important. Our nation’s peace, stability and sustainable development will depend significantly on whether we provide young people with the opportunities, platforms and enabling environment necessary to contribute positively to national transformation.
At MOUFPSD, we remain committed to advancing peacebuilding, youth leadership, climate action, social inclusion and sustainable development, while creating platforms through which young people can transform their voices, ideas and aspirations into measurable community and national impact.
On this International Youth Day, we celebrate every young person choosing peace over violence, dialogue over division, innovation over despair, service over apathy, and hope over hopelessness.
Our contexts may be different, but our aspirations are common.
Let us therefore build a future not merely for young people, but WITH young people.
Happy International Youth Day 2026!
Marcus Ughulu
Founder, MOUFPSD
“Voices of Peace”
Abuja, Nigeria
