Youth Demographics and their Role in Sustainable Development: Emphasis on the 2030 Agenda

Abstract

In this paper, we explored the youth demographics in Nigeria and how such could be channelled towards achieving the sustainable development goals. The study has observed that the Nigerian youths are facing serious unemployment which hinders their effective utilization towards achieving the 2030 Agenda. Based on this, the study has indicated that target 8.6 of the sustainable development goals which centres on substantially reducing the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training by 2020; and target 8.b which involves developing and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization by 2020, has not been met. This therefore raises policy issues towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals. The paper recommended building financial capital for the youth; encouragement of participatory development; promotion of local enterprise forum, functional skills acquisition through the provision of basic core infrastructure, and youth inclusion in governance.