By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Security experts, education stakeholders, and youth leaders have called for urgent and coordinated measures to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, warning that the crisis is undermining education, regional cooperation, and youth development across Africa.
The call was made on Tuesday during the opening of Spark Nation 3.0, a youth leadership programme organised by One Youth Global at the permanent site of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki.
Speaking after the event was flagged off, Mr. Uchechukwu Agbo, President of One Youth Global, said the organisation is committed to raising a new generation of leaders capable of securing Africa’s economic freedom and tackling pressing challenges, particularly insecurity.
Agbo explained that the programme, themed “Raising Change Makers across Africa”, featured a leadership boot camp, debate, and quiz competition involving students from more than 10 African countries. However, he lamented that insecurity in Nigeria discouraged participation from some foreign students, as parents refused to allow their children to travel to the country over safety concerns.
Entries were received from countries including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Chad, and Liberia, but many participants were unable to attend due to security fears.
Agbo noted that Spark Nation 3.0 was designed to impact 250 secondary schools, over 3,000 students, and 660 teachers, while expanding access to formal education for about 560 African youths. He stressed that while Africa’s political independence had been won by an earlier generation, the current generation must fight for economic liberation through innovation, enterprise, and purposeful leadership.
“We want to raise a generation of leaders who will ensure that no part of Africa is considered unsafe for anyone because of insecurity. Every African deserves the right to live without fear,” he said.
