As Nigeria joined the global community in marking International Youth Day on August 12, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, used the occasion to press for a more equitable system for young people across the country. In an exclusive interview with Persecondnews in Abuja, Afeez argued that a young person’s background or geographic location should not be the deciding factor in their ability to build a successful future.
The United Nations General Assembly established International Youth Day in 1999, designating August 12 each year to raise awareness of the challenges facing young people, promote the UN’s World Programme of Action for Youth, and recognize young people as vital partners in development. This year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” speaks directly to the situation of Nigerian youth, whose daily realities may differ sharply but whose fundamental goals remain aligned.
A Shared Drive for Opportunity
Afeez said that despite the wide variety of circumstances Nigerian students come from, they are united by a common desire. “From what I have seen and heard from Nigerian students and young people, the biggest common aspiration is the desire for equal opportunity to build a meaningful and prosperous future,” he told Persecondnews.
The theme chosen by the UN for 2026 acknowledges that young people around the world navigate different national and local realities while sharing fundamental aspirations for dignity, quality education, decent work, and a sustainable future. For Nigerian students, however, the gap between aspiration and reality can be wide. Differences in location, economic background, and access to education significantly shape the opportunities available to them, making equitable access the central issue in achieving those shared goals.
Policies Must Serve All, Not Just the Elite
Afeez stressed that the government must pursue an equitable and just system where every young person can explore and showcase their potential, regardless of background, geography, or access to education. He was direct about the need for policy reform, saying, “Government must formulate policies that do not solely favour the elite, but cater to the needs and aspirations of all citizens. Government must break barriers for our young people and create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed.”
His remarks reflect a concern that interventions are often designed primarily around the needs of the privileged, leaving other young Nigerians behind. He argued that equity must be a core principle in government policy, not an afterthought.
NELFUND as a Step in the Right Direction
Afeez pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an example of an intervention that can reduce financial barriers to education and widen access for students from different economic backgrounds. “The Federal Government, through initiatives such as NELFUND, has taken a significant step towards expanding access to education, irrespective of students’ economic backgrounds,” he said.
However, he cautioned that such programs cannot be one-off efforts. “What is required now is to sustain, strengthen and expand such initiatives while ensuring that every young Nigerian has a fair opportunity to fulfil their potential and succeed,” he said. The implication is that while the policy direction may be sound, the scale and consistency of implementation will determine whether it truly changes outcomes for the majority of students.
Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Future
The NANS president’s position comes at a time when Nigeria’s youth population continues to grow, and the pressure on educational and employment systems remains intense. The conversation around International Youth Day this year highlights a tension that is hard to ignore: young Nigerians share common aspirations, but their paths to achieving them are far from equal.
Afeez’s call for a system that rewards potential rather than privilege is not a new one, but it carries particular weight coming from the leader of the country’s student body. His emphasis on geography as a barrier is notable, as it draws attention to the divide between urban and rural access to quality education and opportunities.
The broader question now is whether the government will take the message beyond the observance of Youth Day. The focus on sustaining and expanding programs like NELFUND suggests that the next phase of work is about scale and reach, ensuring that the interventions already in place actually serve the young people who need them most.
