Northern, Southern youths unite, sign peace accord in Kaduna

Photo of the signing of the peace accord between Northern and Southern youths in Kaduna on Saturday. Credit: Godwin Isenyo

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Youths from the northern and southern parts of the country on Saturday converged in Kaduna, where they signed a peace accord aimed at promoting national unity and forging a common front to enhance their relevance in Nigeria’s political and economic development.

The meeting, held at the historic Arewa House, Kaduna, was organised by the National Youth Alliance and brought together youth representatives from the South-East, South-South and South-West, alongside their counterparts from the North.

The gathering culminated in the signing of a peace accord christened “The Birthing of a New Nigeria”, with participants pledging to eschew ethnic and religious divisions and to speak with one voice in the interest of national cohesion and democratic stability ahead of the 2027 elections.

Nigeria has a long history of youth mobilisation along ethnic, regional and religious lines, often intensified during election cycles.

Political actors have repeatedly been accused of exploiting socio-economic frustrations among young people — including unemployment, insecurity and poverty — to fuel divisions and unrest, particularly in the build-up to general elections.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chairman of NYA (North), Abubakar Mohammed-General, lamented what he described as decades of manipulation of young people by political elites for selfish ends.

According to him, Nigerian youths have for too long been divided along ethnic and religious lines through misinformation and deliberate falsehoods, making them instruments of conflict rather than development partners.

“For decades, politicians and elites have been using us to gain power and political relevance. They divided us along religious and ethnic lines. So much fake news and misinformation were dished out so that we would continue to see ourselves as sworn enemies,” General said.

Speaking on behalf of the southern delegates, the Vice-Chairman of NYA (South), Meshack Onyeche, declared that Nigeria’s unity was non-negotiable, insisting that young people across the country had resolved to reject divisive narratives.

“Nigeria can never be divided. Nigeria is our country. Nobody can divide us,” Onyeche said.

He noted that youths had borne the brunt of political instability, economic hardship and social dislocation, often being exploited to advance narrow political and economic interests.

Earlier, the Convener of the National Youth Alliance, Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, recounted the evolution of the group, noting that it initially sought registration as a political party but was denied by the Independent National Electoral Commission under its then leadership.

“Instead of being defeated, we continued our programmes and eventually metamorphosed into a movement,” Abbas said.

He expressed concern over what he described as the persistent deception of youths by leaders who, he claimed, were more interested in personal and family gains than in national development.

“The reality today is that our leaders have been misleading the youth for a very long time. They are only concerned about their families,” he said.

In recent years, calls for national cohesion have grown louder amid rising insecurity, economic hardship and concerns about the future of democratic governance.

Youth groups across the country have increasingly sought platforms to promote dialogue, unity and collective political engagement, arguing that young Nigerians must move beyond regional loyalties to play a constructive role in shaping national policy and leadership.

The National Youth Alliance emerged from this context as a cross-regional movement after its initial bid to register as a political party was rejected by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Since then, the group has focused on advocacy, peacebuilding and political education, positioning itself as a platform to bridge the long-standing divide between youths in the North and South.

The peace accord signed in Kaduna comes against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections, with concerns that divisive rhetoric and identity politics could once again be weaponised.

The agreement reflects a broader effort by youth leaders to prevent a repeat of past tensions by fostering cooperation, mutual understanding and a unified voice among Nigeria’s young population.

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