Youth summit launched to tackle rising threats to Nigerian girls

The Not Too Young To Perform (NTYTP) Leadership Development Advocacy, a youth-focused non-governmental organisation, has urged government, corporate bodies, and policymakers at all levels to take concrete steps in line with the 2025 International Youth Day theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, and its focus, “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships.”

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Mikail Audu, NTYTP stressed that these themes represent urgent calls for measurable action, especially given Nigeria’s current realities where the youth population is both a vital asset and a vulnerable group.

The organisation raised concerns over the rising cases of abductions, exploitation, disappearances, and killings of young women, particularly the girl-child, in hotels and public spaces, citing a serious gap in security awareness and institutional response.

To tackle this, NTYTP announced the launch of its National Youth Safety and Security Summit — a nationwide intervention to promote safety consciousness and proactive security engagement among young Nigerians. The summit will debut in Abuja, bringing together government officials, security agencies, youth leaders, academics, civil society, and development partners for dialogue, training, and strategic collaboration on security awareness, digital safety, and risk management.

Following its national launch, the initiative will expand to all 36 states and the FCT, targeting schools, community-based groups, and vulnerable communities. Over the next three years, it will also reach 185 tertiary institutions, establishing safety clubs and distributing the NTYTP Safety and Security Handbook for the Girl-Child and Young Women.

The handbook, to be developed with input from security experts, survivors, and community leaders, will serve as a practical guide on personal, public, and digital safety. It will be unveiled at a national dinner and award ceremony honouring individuals and organisations contributing to youth protection.

Calling for broad collaboration, NTYTP invited governments, corporate organisations, civil society, and the media to partner through endorsements, funding, expertise, and mobilisation.

“The National Youth Safety and Security Summit is not just an event but the start of a national movement to safeguard the lives and aspirations of Nigeria’s youth,” Comrade Audu stated.

International Youth Day will be observed globally on August 12, 2025.