28/04/2026
Children, adolescents, and youth are not only affected by humanitarian action; they are essential stakeholders in shaping its effectiveness, relevance, and accountability. Their experiences offer critical insight into what is working, where the gaps remain, and what must change if humanitarian response is to be more responsive to the realities they face.
On 23 April 2026, Plan International Nigeria, in collaboration with Save the Children, Nigeria and the NRC - Norwegian Refugee Council, officially launched the Put Us at the Centre Nigeria research report in Abuja. The event brought together government representatives, civil society actors, diplomatic partners, United Nations agencies, youth platforms, and the media to strengthen accountability in humanitarian response across Nigeria.
Built on consultations with 132 children, adolescents, and youth across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, the report delivered a clear message: young people want to be heard, involved, and responded to, not simply consulted. Their priorities were consistent and urgent, ranging from education and food security to livelihoods, child protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The report also drew attention to one of the most persistent gaps in humanitarian action: the broken feedback loop, where communities share their concerns but rarely hear what changed as a result.
One of the most powerful moments of the event came during the Youth Advisory Panel session, where young people from Borno State spoke directly about school closures, food insecurity, safety concerns, and the urgent need for genuine inclusion in decisions that affect their lives. Their voices reinforced a simple but important truth: accountability cannot stop at listening; it must extend to action, response, and sustained engagement.
At Plan International Nigeria, we believe that real humanitarian action begins when children and young people are placed at the centre, not the margins. Moving beyond tokenistic consultation, protecting critical services, and strengthening meaningful participation are not optional, they are essential to building a humanitarian response that is more just, more responsive, and more accountable to those it is meant to serve.
