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I had the privilege of welcoming distinguished participants to the International Youth Summit 2026, organised by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Corporation / INTERPOL Center USA (ICA) in Nigeria, under the theme: “The Stolen Future: Reclaiming Hope for the Next Generation.”

In my address, I emphasised that this theme is more than a conference topic. It is a warning, a question and a challenge to our generation.

When the voice and mandate of the people are undermined, we do not merely lose a political opportunity, we risk losing a future, a dream and an entire generation.

As Head of Mission, I reaffirmed my commitment to promoting human dignity, justice, accountable leadership and the protection of the rights and aspirations of young people.

I called on citizens, leaders and human rights defenders to reject silence in the face of injustice and to pursue accountability without hatred, justice without violence and human rights without fear.

Our responsibility is clear: to build a society where the ballot has meaning, institutions serve the people, the law has integrity and leadership is understood as a sacred responsibility.

Reclaiming the future is not about returning to the past. It is about building a future worthy of our children and those who will come after us.

I remain convinced that the mandate may have been stolen, but the future is not lost; the voice of the people may have been silenced, but it has not been destroyed.

There is still hope, and that hope requires courage, responsibility and collective action.

As the Secretary-General of IHRC Corporation / INTERPOL Center USA, Prof. h.c. Rafal Marcin Wasik, reminds us: “What we do today, we do for generations.”

That is the responsibility before us.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah

Head of Mission,

IHRC Corporation / INTERPOL Center USA, Nigeria