Nigerian Youth Write a New Chapter in Africa’s Development Story

International Volunteer Day (IVD) celebrates the millions of volunteers worldwide who are dedicated to securing a better future for everyone. This year, the Day coincides with the launch of the International Year for Volunteers of Sustainable Development 2026, which calls for a global movement that magnifies the role of volunteers in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.    

From Benue State to the United Nations

When the Benue State Government partnered with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), it marked a pioneering policy move, it was a first for Africa. Through this innovative initiative, 46 young professionals from Benue, comprising 23 youth and 23 specialists, are taking on fully funded national UN Volunteer roles, with a strong focus on gender balance (60 per cent women) and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Since 2024, eight volunteers have already been deployed across six UN agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Their work shows how national talent can expand systems, support communities, and help shape Nigeria’s future.

“Listening to today’s UN Volunteers is deeply fulfilling, and their stories inspire my commitment to ensure the continuity of this project.”
- Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State

“Change is Possible.” Rebecca Akough with UNFPA

The women gathered in a community hall in Yola still carried the weight of recent loss. Some had fled violent clashes in Yelewata, Benue State. Others had been displaced by floods in Adamawa. Rebecca Akough, a UN Volunteer Gender-Based Violence Associate with UNFPA, moved quietly among them, listening and taking notes. Her role was not to speak for them, but to ensure their voices were heard. She coordinated psychosocial support, helped establish referral pathways, and oversaw the distribution of dignity kits. Over time, these interventions reached more than 3,000 people across host and displaced communities.

Rebecca’s work is not without its challenges. In some areas, survivors of gender-based violence hesitate to come forward, fearing stigma or retaliation. Resources are limited, and insecurity often restricts mobility. Yet she finds strength in the resilience of the women she serves.

“Working with survivors of violence in difficult conditions is never easy. But each time a woman accesses support without fear, or a community begins to talk openly about protection, I see that change is possible.”
 

“Data Represents Lives.” Victor Orih with WHO

In Abuja, Victor Orih spends much of his day surrounded by spreadsheets and policy briefs. But behind every dataset, he sees lives. As a Programme Support Officer with WHO, Victor works on some of Nigeria’s most pressing public health issues, from HIV and hepatitis to non-communicable diseases and tobacco control. Recently, his work helped generate national HIV epidemic estimates, a crucial dataset that guides funding decisions and service delivery. He also played an essential role in the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, which trained more than 80 enumerators and informed policy discussions reaching thousands of Nigerians.

Numbers alone do not capture the real challenges. In the neglected tropical diseases programme, Victor faced delays in reporting due to gaps in data collection. “The tension was real,” he recalls. “Without timely reporting, we risked losing credibility and resources.” To address it, he helped design practical ways to link supply chain data with monitoring systems, strengthening structures that will endure beyond his assignment. In doing so, his story illustrates a different side of the Benue–UNV partnership where volunteers not only support communities but also influence policies.

“I have learned that every dataset represents lives. When evidence informs policies, it means better services, fewer inequalities and stronger health systems.”

“Coordination Holds Systems Together.” Hembafan Utange with RCO

For Hembafan Utange, joining the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Abuja was a complete shift from anything she's done before. As a former self-employed person, she was used to working at her own pace. Suddenly, she found herself in layers of bureaucracy, chasing responses across multiple agencies and coordinating joint programmes.

“At first, I felt my job was just sending reminders. But then I realised, coordination is what holds the system together. Without it, impact would be fragmented.”

As a Partnerships and Coordination Associate, Hembafan supports the UN’s inter-agency group on youth and strategies that help the UN in Nigeria build stronger partnerships. She says her role is vital at a time when the UN is not only seen as a source of funding for Africa but as a partner that brings people and ideas together to support the Sustainable Development Goals. She shares: “To be a UN Volunteer is an honour. Service to humanity at a global level is fulfilling.”
 

A Model for Africa

While 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the workforce each year, only 3.1 million jobs are created according to the African Development Bank Group. By funding national UN Volunteer roles within UN agencies, Benue State is directly equipping its youth with hands-on experience in development and humanitarian work.

Veronica Obiuwevbi, who is the UNV Country Coordinator for Nigeria, shares:

“The Benue–UNV partnership is a pioneering effort in Africa. It shows how state-level leadership can invest directly in young people, opening doors for them in the UN system while strengthening national development.”

Rebecca, Victor and Hembafan’s assignments are more than placements: they are powerful stories of ambition, service and transformation. Through UNV's Full Funding Programme, these young Nigerians are not just filling gaps in development work; they are stepping into roles that prepare them to become future leaders of the UN system. Their journeys reflect a broader movement: one in which national talent is nurtured, empowered and trusted to drive change. With eight UN Volunteers already recruited and more preparing to serve, this initiative is helping Nigerian youth write a new chapter in Africa’s development story, one defined by inclusion, leadership and hope.

This story was originally published on UNV's Exposure channel. Learn more about the UN's work in Nigeria on the UN Country Team website.