The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is a global platform where young people engage in dialogue with policymakers, civil society, and development partners to shape the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a space for youth to share ideas, solutions, and innovations for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

In alignment with this global mission, NGYouthSDGs, in partnership with Mind the Gap Nigeria and the UN Nigeria Inter-Agency Youth Group, hosted a virtual side event to deepen conversations around youth leadership and access to sustainable financing in the Global South. Titled “Youth Leadership and Financing for a Sustainable Future,“ the event aimed to spotlight the challenges and opportunities young changemakers face in securing resources to scale their impact, innovate in climate action, and drive inclusive development. As a youth-led movement advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, NGYouthSDGs has consistently created platforms for young people to influence policy, build skills, and scale their solutions. With over 150 participants, including youth leaders, UN representatives, government actors, and development partners, drawing a vibrant cross-section of participants from different parts of the country and beyond, the event created an energetic forum for co-learning, idea exchange, and action-oriented dialogue on financing youth-led innovation and enterprise.

The side event aligns with:

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) – It advocates for financial inclusion and youth-led economic opportunities.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) – It supports youth-led innovations and enterprises.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) – It addresses the financial barriers that prevent young people from accessing funding.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) – It fosters collaboration between youth, governments, private sector actors, and financial institutions.

Key Highlights and Insights 

• Dr. Babatunde Adelekan of the UN Nigeria Inter-Agency Youth Group set the tone of the event by affirming that young people are not just future leaders, but they are leaders now. He emphasised the need for inclusive systems that grant youth access to quality education, financial resources, and participation in decision-making processes.
• Mr. Tayo Olosunde, Co-Founder of Mind the Gap Nigeria, called on youth to shift from ideation to action. Sharing the impact of their partnership with Google, which has trained over 160,000 youth in digital skills, he highlighted how coalitions and youth-led initiatives are redefining the social enterprise landscape in Nigeria.

• Mr. Ronald Kayanja, Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, inspired participants with a powerful assertion: “The future is not what we wait for, it’s what we build.” He emphasised the importance of youth inclusion in the tech and innovation ecosystem, advocating for digital equity and the dismantling of gender barriers in STEM.

• Dr. Onyeche Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas, Project Director at Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), stressed the potential of youth entrepreneurship to bridge the financing gap. She encouraged youth to explore sustainable financing through digital innovation and social enterprise, and underscored the need for strategic partnerships and capacity-building.

• Rita Idehai, Founder of Ecobarter, spotlighted the circular economy and called for strategic trust-building with institutions. Her insights on using storytelling to unlock funding and delivering on grant promises were a rallying cry for accountability and visibility in youth entrepreneurship.

• Karina Karunwi, Head of Programs at Impact Hub Lagos, delivered a pragmatic roadmap for funding youth-led ventures—from Minimum Viable Product development and revenue generation to diaspora crowdfunding and VC readiness. She urged participants to pursue blended financing strategies and leverage innovation hubs and mentorship.

• Hon. Olamide Fagbuji, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Innovation, reinforced youth leadership in climate innovation. He acknowledged the existing trust gap between funders and youth organisations and shared the government’s commitment to reviewing policies that enable youth-led climate tech solutions.
• Joshua Alade, Executive Director of NGYouthSDGs, delivered a passionate closing message calling for financial policies that reflect the lived realities of Nigerian youth. He advocated for flexible, youth-led funding tools and emphasised the importance of embedding financial inclusion into national strategies such as the National Youth Policy. Joshua urged governments and funders to prioritise inclusive models, ensure fair taxation frameworks for youth-led enterprises, and engage youth in shaping policy at every level. He concluded by reaffirming NGYouthSDGs’ commitment to partnering with young innovators to scale impact as global dialogues on development finance progress

Key Findings and Recommendations

1. Targeted Investment Is Critical – Funding must meet youth where they are: digitally native, driven, and impact-oriented.
   2. Policy Access Must Improve – Government and development actors need to reduce bureaucratic barriers and build two-way trust with youth.
   3. Blended Finance Is the Future – Youth should diversify their funding mix and consider social enterprise models over traditional nonprofit formats.
   4. Digital Literacy Is a Foundation – Building capacity in tech and AI tools can improve project outcomes and financial viability.
   5. Storytelling and Accountability Matter – To build trust and scale funding, youth-led organisations must document impact and keep their commitments.

Conclusion

The event successfully brought together a diverse and dynamic network of stakeholders committed to advancing the role of youth in development financing. It served as a powerful platform for learning, dialogue, and collaboration, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities that define the current youth financing landscape. More than just a discussion, the event ignited a renewed sense of urgency and collective responsibility to reshape the systems that support youth leadership, moving from rhetoric to action and from exclusion to empowerment.

Above all, the convening reaffirmed a central truth: with equitable access to resources, supportive policy frameworks, and inclusive partnerships, young people are not only capable of leading change, they are already doing so. The task ahead is to sustain this momentum, ensure their voices are heard, and create the enabling environment they need to continue building a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for all.

Link to the replay of the  event – https://www.youtube.com/live/X0chqDUBbM0?feature=shared