The Nigeria Police Force is set to mark the 2026 International Youth Day with a three-day National Youth Leadership and Security Initiative aimed at promoting youth empowerment, responsible citizenship and peaceful participation in civic activities.
The programme, scheduled for August 20 to 22, 2026, will take place at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja, while similar activities will be held simultaneously across police zonal and state commands nationwide.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said the initiative aligns with the United Nations theme for this year’s celebration, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
According to the Force, the programme is designed as a preventive policing strategy focused on youth leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital responsibility and peaceful civic engagement.
Activities lined up for the three-day event include youth leadership dialogues, police-youth engagement sessions, panel discussions, innovation exhibitions, a peace and security walkathon, sporting activities and a tree-planting campaign tagged, “Plant Peace. Grow Nigeria. Secure the Future.”
The Police will also honour outstanding young Nigerians and launch “Esteemed Youths,” a national youth reorientation resource, on August 22.
Two national campaigns are also expected to be unveiled as part of efforts to address emerging threats involving young people.
They are “My Future Is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery,” aimed at discouraging electoral and online violence, and “Think Before You Click. Verify Before You Share,” which seeks to promote responsible digital behaviour and combat misinformation, deepfakes and cyberbullying.
The Nigeria Police Force called on ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, diplomatic missions, youth organisations, schools, civil society groups, faith-based organisations and private-sector stakeholders to participate in the initiative.
The Force further urged stakeholders who received earlier invitations to take note of the revised dates.
Registration for the programme is ongoing, while the Police said investing in young people through positive values, skills and opportunities remains central to its preventive policing strategy and efforts to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous Nigeria.