UNESCO YOD Marks International Day of Education Across Regions Despite Security Concerns

Despite rising insecurity in parts of Northern Nigeria, UNESCO Youth Orientation for Development (YOD) proceeded with cross-regional activities to commemorate this year’s International Day of Education, underscoring the organization’s position that access to education must not be paused due to difficult conditions.

Inikpi Amodu, Lawyer and Programs Lead at UNESCO YOD, disclosed that the team made a deliberate decision to extend activities beyond the Western region to include Northern communities, even as security concerns prompted caution from stakeholders.

“Safety matters,” Amodu noted, acknowledging that concerns raised ahead of the program were valid. However, she emphasized that limiting engagement in regions facing instability risks deepening educational inequality and normalizing exclusion.

The cross-regional initiative was designed with safety considerations in place, according to the organization. Beyond ceremonial observance, the program focused on advocacy, solidarity, and reinforcing the right to education in communities where insecurity increasingly disrupts learning and participation.

This year’s theme, “The power of youth in co-creating education,” framed discussions around shifting young people from passive recipients of policy to active contributors in shaping educational systems. Amodu stressed that education should not be treated as a finished product delivered to learners, but as a collaborative process developed with them.

Stakeholders at the event called for stronger collaboration between government institutions, civil society groups, and educational bodies to ensure that youth voices are represented in policy conversations and reform efforts. Speakers also highlighted the risks of tokenistic inclusion, urging decision-makers to create meaningful avenues for youth participation.

The observance concluded with a renewed call for equity-driven education reforms that prioritize inclusion, particularly in regions facing structural and security challenges. Organizers maintained that sustained presence and engagement remain critical to ensuring that vulnerable learners are not left behind.