The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday marked the 2025 International Youth Day Celebration in an event that attracted seasoned stakeholders and youths from various walks of life.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation through Technology and Partnership.”
While welcoming participants to the event which took place in Akure, the Executive Director (Corporate Services), Niger Delta Development Commission, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, said that the NDDC holds the youth of Ondo State in the highest regard, adding that they are not only the hearts of the present but the architects of the future.
He stressed that the energy, creativity and resilience of youths remain some of the most valuable assets of the Niger Delta region, which is why the Commission remains poised to empower them and amplify their voices.
Abegunde added that technology is more than a tool but is a gateway to innovation, global partnership, economic empowerment and sustainable development providing young people with unprecedented opportunities to reimagine their futures and reshape their communities.
He said, “today, we are not just marking a global observance; we are embracing a powerful vision, a vision where our youths are not merely participants but leaders in shaping a collaborative, technology-driven future.
“Through Technology and strategic partnerships, you our youths can break barriers, bridge divides, and build coalitions that transcend borders. This is what Multilateral cooperation in the 21st century looks like. And this is where your strength lies.”
The keynote speaker, Hon. Dayo Awude, described the theme as a call to action, a roadmap and a challenge for the present generation. He stressed that multilateral cooperation goes beyond bilateral ties between two parties, as it involves multiple stakeholders such as governments, private sector players, civil society groups, and communities pooling resources together for the common good.
Awude said that beyond computer gadgets or the Internet, technology serves as an equaliser for Niger Delta youths, as it allows us leap over decades of infrastructural disadvantage and plug directly into global value chains.
He stressed that beyond technology, partnership through collaboration will go a long way in helping to address the challenges facing the current generation.
He said, “as we gather here in this vibrant setting, we are reminded of the challenges we face, global issues that transcend borders, cultures and languages. Climate change, global health crises, and social inequalities are not merely distant concerns; they are challenges we all share.
“However, amid these challenges lies an extraordinary opportunity: the potential of young minds collaborating across nations, leveraging technology to forge partnerships that deliver sustainable solutions.
“The future of the Niger Delta will not be written by our oil rigs or foreign policies alone; it will be written by the young people who dare to connect, cooperate and innovate on a multilateral scale.”
Another speaker, Rotimi Olorunfemi ESQ, described technology as a crucial tool for Multilateral cooperation, saying that the Nigerian youth can play a vital role in harnessing technology to foster cooperation and address some of Nigeria’s nationhood and regional challenges.
His words: “it is a truism that the world today, nay our dear nation Nigeria, and indeed the entire Niger Delta region is faced with numerous challenges that require collective action and cooperation among nations and governments at the national, regional and subnational levels.”
Various panelists who spoke stressed the need for mentoring and determination towards achieving set goals and attaining greater heights in life
