The National Director of Mobilization and Campus Orientation of the National Association of University Students, NAUS, Comrade Joel Woghiren, has urged Nigerian youths not to allow their circumstances to limit their aspirations or determine their future.

Woghiren gave the advice in an exclusive interview with Super FM in Benin City as Nigerians joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Youth Day, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

He said the prevailing economic and social challenges in the country should not discourage young people from pursuing their ambitions, but rather challenge them to become part of the solution to problems confronting their communities and the nation.

According to him, Nigerian youths must move beyond complaining about the challenges they face and begin to develop the capacity to provide practical solutions to the problems around them.

The NAUS official stressed the need for young people to invest in themselves through education, skills acquisition, personal development and other forms of capacity building that would enable them to become active participants in decisions and actions that shape their societies.

Woghiren also called on parents, educational institutions, governments and private organisations to create more opportunities for young people to thrive, noting that the potential of the younger generation could only be fully realised when they are provided with the necessary support and opportunities.

He said empowering youths should be regarded as a collective responsibility, urging stakeholders to create an environment where young Nigerians can develop their abilities, contribute meaningfully to society and pursue their aspirations regardless of their circumstances.