By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to helping Nigerian youths fulfill their life aspirations and potentials.
The presidential aide stated this Thursday at the Nigeria Youth Consultative Forum on the Summit of the Future hosted by the Inter-Agency Youth Group of the United Nations in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and the coalition of youth CSOs and networks at UN House, Abuja.
According to the organizers, the Consultative Forum, which held ahead of the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024, aims to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitment including to the SDGs and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
In addition, the event aims to capture the views of young Nigerians on their expectations for the present and future and inspire collective actions of young people for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria. The outcomes from the forum will serve as Nigeria’s contributions towards the UN Summit of the Future and the importance of harnessing concrete and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing young Nigerians.
Speaking as a special guest of honour, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, noted that with over 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, the country stands at a pivotal juncture.
The SSAP further added that about 40% of the 35 million Nigerians with disabilities fall within the youth age bracket, stressing that this huge population suffers untold marginalization and deprivation as they are neglected to the background due to their disabilities.
“To address this, my office has undertaken various programs and initiatives aimed at identifying and nurturing the talents of young people with disabilities. One of such programs is the upcoming Beyond Disability Project, which will be launched by the President on June 27 at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa.
“This program aims to empower young people with disabilities through talent and skill development. This project will provide training, mentorship, and resources for persons with disabilities to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. The Beyond Disability Project is not just a program; it is a movement to ensure that no talent is wasted, and no potential is overlooked.
“Recently, as part of the mandate given to me by Mr President to create an inclusive society by shattering all barriers, I made a strong call for the need to remove the age bracket criteria for persons with disabilities participating in YALI programs, specifically the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. We consider this is an unfair barrier to inclusion which negates the principle of equal opportunities. It is imperative that we dismantle this barrier to ensure true equal opportunities. PWDs must not be excluded from these vital programs due to an arbitrary age limit.
“Instead, we must advocate for automatic slots for youths with disabilities and special needs in all YALI, U.S, and UN-sponsored programs for youth. This policy change is not just about inclusion; it is about fairness and the recognition that everyone deserves a chance to develop their potential, regardless of the challenges they face,” the presidential aide stated.
While extending his gratitude to the Inter-Agency Youth Group of the United Nations in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, and the coalition of youth CSOs and networks for organizing this significant summit, the SSAP urge the youths to harness their collective energy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create a brighter future for themselves and generations to come.
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