Nigeria has taken a decisive step in translating global commitments into national action, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hosted Africa’s first-ever Pact for the Future Step-Down Workshop in Abuja on January 30, 2025, exactly one year after world leaders endorsed the landmark pact at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York.
The workshop brought together more than 1,000 participants, including policymakers, academics, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and young innovators, to explore how the ambitious global framework can be localized to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
“This is not about lofty speeches in New York; it is about bringing those commitments home and making them real for Nigerians,” declared CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, who has been at the forefront of advancing Nigeria’s role in shaping the pact.
Cardoso had drawn international attention in 2024 at the Summit of the Future in New York, where he sponsored young CBN staff to directly participate in the negotiations that produced the Pact for the Future. The framework sets a new vision for global cooperation through 2030 and beyond, covering peace, sustainable development, digital governance, and youth empowerment.
Backed by the United Nations office in Nigeria, the Ministry of Youth, and a coalition of non-governmental organizations, the Abuja workshop marked the first time an African country stepped down the pact to grassroots level. Analysts say the move underscores Nigeria’s determination not just to be a signatory but a leader in continental implementation.
“Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive observer. We must lead from the front especially when the issues directly affect our young people and our economic future,” Cardoso stressed.
Participants described the event as a turning point for Africa’s youngest continent. Despite being home to the world’s largest youth population, Africa continues to struggle with unemployment, inequality, and governance deficits. For many, the workshop bridged the gap between abstract global frameworks and lived realities.
“For the first time, I felt that these UN documents actually have something to do with me,” said Dr. Amina Yusuf, a youth delegate. “It was not just theory; it was practical, and it was Nigerian.”
Civil society leaders hailed the CBN’s initiative as a continental benchmark, noting that without political will and institutional backing, international frameworks often remain unimplemented. “Nigeria has now proved it can be done,” said one participant.
The momentum has already extended beyond Abuja. In August 2025, a follow-up session in Kano, hosted in partnership with Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, convened 300 young people to continue the dialogue. A broader rollout is also underway through the Abuja-based UN Pact for the Future Step-Down Consortium, which is engaging stakeholders in other African states to replicate the Nigerian model.
With less than five years to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the urgency of action is growing. Cardoso reminded participants that the pact is more than a document: “It is a call to act now.”
As the continent looks on, one question persists: will other African nations follow Nigeria’s lead, or will the CBN’s pioneering move leave Nigeria standing alone as the trailblazer of the Pact for the Future?