UPHOLDD Nigeria has concluded the arrangement to mobilise no fewer than eight million youths to promote unity and sustainable development of the country.
Lead program coordinator and national integration expert in Mr. Victor Wilkinson Agih, in a statement on Friday, explained that the initiative was a call to action for Nigerian youths to actively participate in the nation’s transformation by embracing and promoting cultural innovation.
He further stated that the initiative seeks to reignite the potential of Nigeria’s diversity, emphasizing inclusivity, equality, and people-centric opportunities adding that at its core, UPHOLDD Nigeria aims to uphold the Nigerian spirit of oneness and unity, creating a unifying consciousness progressive nationalism.
He remarked that deliberate action is crucial to foster national integration in multi-ethnic democracies, especially in polarized environments.
“In such contexts, where historical grievances and marginalization can fuel tensions, deliberate efforts are needed to help bridge divides, promote mutual understanding, and strengthen the social fabric necessary for a stable and prosperous democracy,” he noted.
He added that the National Integration Marshalls Program is the first of its kind—a citizen-driven service program that positions young Nigerians at the forefront of national development.
He further stated that the program aims to launch Nigeria’s first development goals action plan, a citizen-led social mobility agenda that celebrates the ‘UPSIDE of Nigeria’ through the values of Unity, Prosperity, Sustainability, Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity.
Listing the benefits inherent in the initiative, he said: “Through the UPHOLDD Nigeria initiative, we aim to connect over 8 million young Nigerians from over 500 ethnic-lingual nationalities in the country’s six geopolitical zones, through the establishment of up to 8,000 National Pride Ward-level hubs which serve as the backbone of this initiative, promoting Education, Innovation, Enterprise, and Eco-citizenship as key pillars for economic growth and offering a platform for youths to collaborate, innovate, and lead the charge in creating a more unified and prosperous Nigeria.
“The initiative is powered by the #UPSIDE Naija Campaign, which is structured as a mass mobilization mechanism that accelerates a Pan Nigeria Citizens Call to action to promote renewed resilience and responsibility to reset the progressive possibilities through national youth integration, national socio-cultural reorientation for national economic transformation.
“At the heart of the Campaign are 6 goals to promote sustainable development and democracy: Unity for peace and security; Prosperity for economic sufficiency through Domestic Resource Mobilization, Creativity and Innovation for Job Creation; Sustainability for green-blue economy development; Inclusivity for persons with disability and the elderly;Diversity for cultural integration and heritage preservation; Equality for sustainable democracy through Open Society, Social Justice and Strong Institutions/Good Governance.
“The UPHOLDD Nigeria Initiative not only seeks to empower Nigerian youths but also foster a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the nation’s future.
“By championing the cultures of unity and inclusivity, UPHOLDD Nigeria is paving the way for a new era of national consciousness and sustainable national advancement.”
