Youth urged to champion visionary leadership
The Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has called on young Nigerians to play a more active role in the country’s governance and nation-building, urging a collective effort toward visionary leadership, accountability, and unity. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the President of the Forum, Comrade Olajide Filani Toriah, said the gathering was aimed at […]
The Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) has called on young Nigerians to play a more active role in the country’s governance and nation-building, urging a collective effort toward visionary leadership, accountability, and unity.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the President of the Forum, Comrade Olajide Filani Toriah, said the gathering was aimed at encouraging national reflection and youth participation in shaping Nigeria’s future.
He explained that the Forum’s engagement, themed “Nigeria the Way Forward: UNYF Setting the Pace in Nigerian Politics – The Emergence of a New Nigeria,” seeks to inspire constructive dialogue and action among young people toward national renewal.
Toriah referenced the words of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who in 1981 warned that Nigeria must prioritize selfless leadership and long-term planning to achieve sustainable progress. He noted that the message remains relevant today as the country continues to face social and economic challenges.
According to him, Nigeria’s youth have a critical role to play in addressing issues such as unemployment, insecurity, and economic instability by promoting values of integrity, innovation, and inclusiveness in leadership.
“The time has come for Nigerian youth to rise above divisions and take responsibility for building the kind of nation we desire,” Toriah said. “We must reject apathy and commit to shaping a future based on unity, transparency, and a shared vision for national development.”
He reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to advocating for youth inclusion in governance, policy innovation, and value-driven leadership, emphasizing that sustainable progress can only be achieved when citizens and leaders work together in good faith.
Toriah added that the UNYF’s guiding vision—captured in its slogan “One Youth, One Dream, One Destiny”—remains focused on promoting unity, peace, and prosperity across all parts of the country.
He called on young Nigerians to participate actively in civic life and contribute ideas and solutions that would strengthen national cohesion and development.