UN drug office, Bayelsa invest in youths

[Abigail pereowei]

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative for Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Toure, has described inauguration of the Youth Peace Champions in Bayelsa State as vital in leadership, resilient communities, and in a peaceful, prosperous Nigeria.

He said the Bayelsa Youth Peace Champions join a growing national movement, spanning geopolitical zones and cultures, united by a common purpose: to reclaim peace and rebuild futures.

Toure, who spoke at the inauguration in Yenagoa, said the theme for this year’s International Youth Day, ‘‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond’’, underscores the timing of this inauguration.

He noted that ‘we are equipping these young people with skills and a platform to amplify their voices, propose solutions, and stand as beacons of hope for their peers.’

“This is not charity. It is not tokenism. It is a vital investment in leadership, in resilient communities, and in the peaceful, prosperous Nigeria we envision.

According to the Nation, Bayelsa Youth Peace Champions join a growing national movement, spanning geopolitical zones and cultures, united by a common purpose: to reclaim peace and rebuild futures” he added.

UNODC, in partnership with Bayelsa State and support from Denmark, launched in Bayelsa State. The strategic expansion brings a proven, youth-led peace-building model, celebrated for its impact in Northeast, to Niger Delta for the first time.

Commissioner for Youth, Alfred Kemepado, noted that on this International Youth Day, “we stand united with UNODC to ignite a movement, one that empowers our young people to become torchbearers of peace and leadership.

"The inauguration is more than a programme; it is a call to action. It is a bold statement that the voices, courage, and vision of our youth will shape the destiny of Bayelsa, of Nigeria, and of the world.

"Together, we are raising a generation that will not only dream of peace but will defend it, live it, and lead it.”

Rooted in the conviction that sustainable peace must be people-led and youth-powered, Youth Peace Champions initiative is a grassroots movement. It equips young people with tools, training, mentorship, and platforms to become effective peace-builders and positive change makers in their communities.

Implemented under Strengthening the Niger Delta Peace Architecture project using community-based Crime and Violence Prevention Strategies (funded by Denmark), the Bayelsa launch aligns with the state’s pioneering youth policy. It stands as a potential blueprint for youth-led transformation in Nigeria.

Building on documented success Northeast, where 32 Youth Peace Champions reached over nine million people with campaigns like #SeeTheChild, UNODC is adapting its methodology to Bayelsa’s unique context.

A diverse cohort of 25 young leaders has been meticulously selected from five communities: Otuan, Ekeremor, Ikebiri 1, Ekowe, and Ayamasa.

The group, representing both formal and informal sectors, includes 13 females (one with a disability) and 12 males. They will undergo intensive training in peace-building, crime and drug use prevention, future-forward skills, creative communication, and emerging trends.

Crucially, they will be mentored by established leaders across various sectors who share UNODC’s core belief: peace must be youth-led and locally driven. Beyond advocacy, they will serve as visible community role models, fostering social cohesion, driving positive change, and promoting self-reliance through inclusive, sustainable, community-owned actions.

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