Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership Marks International Youth Day, Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Development
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has joined the global community in celebrating International Youth Day (IYD), observed annually on August 12, with this year’s theme: “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.”
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, IYD highlights the role of young people as catalysts for translating global ambitions into local realities and building a sustainable future.
In a statement to mark the occasion, NCSP Director-General, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the growing cooperation between Nigeria and China is intentionally designed to boost youth participation in strategic sectors of the economy. He noted that such collaboration would foster inclusion, stimulate innovation and creativity, and strengthen human capital development for the benefit of young Nigerians.
Tegbe reaffirmed the NCSP’s commitment to empowering young people by creating opportunities within the Nigeria–China cooperation framework. He said the partnership is poised to unlock vast prospects across key sectors including trade, investment, infrastructure, technology transfer, education, and foreign policy.
“Through targeted programmes, we will integrate more young Nigerians into our initiatives, promote knowledge transfer, and support growth in priority areas,” he stated.
He highlighted gains already being made in agriculture through technological innovations that improve productivity and sustainability, in education through wider access to quality learning, and in technology through the deployment of transformative solutions. These, he added, are reinforced by skills development and empowerment initiatives driven by the deepening economic interdependence between both nations.
Positioning the NCSP as a bridge between Nigerian and Chinese stakeholders, Tegbe expressed optimism that the initiative would help unlock the potential of Nigeria’s youth, spur innovation, boost economic prosperity, and accelerate progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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