The International Day of Education, commemorated annually on January 24 since its proclamation by the UN General Assembly in December 2018, serves as a global recognition of education as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for sustainable development, peacebuilding, poverty reduction, and social advancement. For 2026, the theme 'The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education' highlights a critical call for greater youth participation in shaping education policies and systems, urging stakeholders to position young people as collaborators rather than marginal recipients of reforms.

Glide Media Foundation, a non-profit organization, underscored this need by joining global stakeholders on January 24, emphasizing that the exclusion of young people from education policymaking can undermine the relevance and effectiveness of learning systems. Aderonke Atoyebi, founder and executive director of Glide Media Foundation, stated, "Education should not be something done for young people alone, it must be built with them. When youth are engaged as partners in learning, education becomes more relevant, inclusive, and impactful." She also pointed out that rapid digital transformation has reshaped how young people learn and interact, necessitating that educational structures adapt. Media and communication platforms, she added, are vital in bridging gaps among learners, educators, and decision-makers, fostering curiosity and lifelong learning beyond traditional classrooms.

The foundation actively promotes youth-led learning and education engagement through digital tools, advocacy, and creative communication strategies. It emphasizes media's role in shaping public understanding, strengthening accountability, and improving access to information, particularly for communities often excluded from policy conversations. Glide Media Foundation urged education stakeholders to prioritize digital inclusion, media literacy, and ethical communication, stating that responsible media use can translate education policies into meaningful experiences and equip young people with critical thinking, responsible communication, and confident navigation of digital environments.

Despite these aspirations, millions of children and young people worldwide, particularly in countries like Nigeria, face significant barriers to quality education. Mustapha Aminu's story, a Civil Engineering graduate supported by the Oando Foundation scholarship, exemplifies how sustained support can transform an educational journey that once seemed impossible due to limited resources. His journey, however, reflects a broader reality in Nigeria where approximately 18.3 million children are out of school, a glaring indicator of systemic barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, outdated teaching methods, and limited access to digital tools.

Globally, the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024 reveals that 251 million children and youth remain out-of-school, with stark regional disparities: 33% in low-income countries compared to 3% in high-income countries. More than half of these out-of-school children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Even for those enrolled in Nigeria, inconsistent learning outcomes, particularly in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, pose significant challenges, hindering transition to higher education or gainful employment. In an increasingly knowledge- and innovation-driven global economy, bridging this learning divide is crucial for Nigeria's future, as education is not merely a social service but a national competitiveness issue, a workforce imperative, and a driver of long-term economic resilience.

Recognizing these challenges and the theme of youth co-creation, Oando Foundation, established in 2011, places young learners at the core of its education interventions to support Nigeria's socio-economic development. The Foundation focuses on strengthening basic education systems, improving learning outcomes, and equipping young Nigerians with essential skills. Its programmes have reached thousands of beneficiaries in underserved communities, empowering young people to actively contribute to their learning journeys.

Oando Foundation's current LEARNOVATE strategy prioritizes innovation and investments in foundational learning to create equitable, quality, and climate-sensitive education, focusing on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, and building green skills. Key initiatives under this strategy include LEARNOVATE-FLIP (Foundational Learning Improvement Programme), which integrates evidence-based approaches like Early Grade Reading (EGR) and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL). By the 2024/2025 academic year, LEARNOVATE-FLIP reached 80 public primary schools across Adamawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Sokoto States, enrolling 5,162 out-of-school children, providing specialized training for 416 teachers and headteachers, and distributing 40,862 teaching and learning materials. This programme has significantly improved literacy proficiency by over 40% and numeracy by 35%.

In 2025, the Foundation also launched the Green Youth Upskilling Programme (GYUP) to equip young Nigerians with future-ready skills for the growing green economy. The first cohort of 25 trainees received targeted technical training, mentorship, and exposure to sectors like renewable energy, climate, and sustainable management. As a key outcome, 10 climate-smart seed grants will be awarded to top-performing trainees to kick-start enterprises in renewable energy, climate solutions, and sustainable waste management, fostering green entrepreneurship and contributing to Nigeria’s environmental and economic resilience.

As Nigeria navigates a rapidly evolving global economy, deliberate investment in education and human capital is foundational to sustainable growth and social stability. The combined efforts of organizations like Glide Media Foundation and Oando Foundation, alongside the inspiring stories of beneficiaries like Mustapha, underscore the transformative power of strengthened education systems, youth empowerment, and learning aligned with future workforce needs. Through continued collaboration among governments, communities, development partners, and the private sector, these initiatives aim to scale impact, influence policy, and build an education system that equips Nigeria’s young population not just to participate in the future, but to actively shape it.