Youth Empowerment and the Politics of Sustainable Development in Post-Colonial Nigeria

Abstract

This study looks at how Nigerian youth empowerment and governance have changed since the country's independence, with a focus on how they have affected the socioeconomic growth of the nation. It examines how various military and civilian administrations have used youth-oriented programs as tools for social change, economic planning, and political legitimacy, drawing on academic literature and official policy documents. Youth policies have fluctuated between lofty goals and uneven execution, from the creation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to modern entrepreneurship and empowerment initiatives. Although youth empowerment is still a major topic in Nigerian development discourse, the paper contends that its incorporation into governance has been uneven and frequently instrumental. The study repositions youth as both subjects and agents of state policy by placing these developments within larger discussions on post-colonial governance and sustainable development. By shedding light on six decades of youth-state relations and providing insights into the obstacles and opportunities of attaining sustainable development through strategic youth engagement, it advances African historiography and development studies.