As Nigerians prepare to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14, youth leaders have called on the Federal Government to redefine love beyond romance and translate it into policies that protect the country’s young population.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Taiwo Ajayi, Founder of the Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network (CJAN) and Director of Youth Advocacy and Policy at the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), alongside Boluwatife Adedokun, Executive Director of Corpers’ Journey, urged policymakers to prioritise youth-centred reforms addressing unemployment, mental health and housing insecurity.
The youth advocates said Valentine’s Day should serve as a national moment of reflection on the conditions facing millions of young Nigerians struggling with economic hardship and unstable living conditions.
“Valentine’s Day presents an opportunity to reflect on a deeper, national expression of love, one that empowers, protects and secures the future of Nigerian youth,” the statement read.
Citing recent findings by Plan International Nigeria and ActionAid Nigeria, the youth leaders noted that nearly 80 million Nigerian youth face unemployment or economic exclusion, with broader data indicating widespread underemployment and limited access to decent work.
They argued that beyond the statistics are young Nigerians grappling with uncertainty, financial instability and rising psychological stress.
The statement emphasised that mental health must become central to public policy conversations, particularly as economic hardship and job insecurity continue to impact youth wellbeing.
“Mental health, often overlooked in public discourse, must become central to youth policy conversations. Love, in its truest sense, must include the protection of youth mental health through accessible counselling services, peer support systems and community-based interventions,” they said.
The group also raised concerns about the welfare of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, noting that many corps members are forced to secure accommodation in overcrowded or insecure environments due to high rental costs and weak welfare structures.
According to the advocates, safe and affordable housing should be guaranteed as a basic condition for dignity and productivity.
Under the advocacy theme, “Love That Protects: Prioritising Youth Mental Health, Safety and Economic Dignity,” the youth leaders called for the introduction of national peer mental health support programmes in NYSC camps and host communities, expanded youth empowerment initiatives including skills acquisition and enterprise funding, housing reforms to ensure safe and affordable accommodation for corps members, and stronger partnerships between youth organisations and government institutions.
They maintained that youth empowerment is not only an economic necessity but a moral obligation.
“When we speak of love as a nation, it must be reflected in systems that protect young people, expand their opportunities and safeguard their dignity,” the statement added.