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Focus On Future Of Nigerian Youths, The Journey So Far

The saying that youths are the future of tomorrow has become a popular saying in Nigeria’s socio-political parlance. That saying which, ordinarily, is meant to lend credence to the place of youths in the social, political, and economic affairs of the country, seems to have become mere political usage that never comes to reality. In this special report, correspondent, Daniel Ezeigwe, takes a look at the future of the Nigerian youth, sixty years after independence.

The Nigerian youth seem to be at the receiving end of so many leadership failings that have become customary year after year, hence, their yearly migration abroad, in search of greener pastures, that have been denied them in a country where the light continues to dim on their future.

President Muhammadu Buhari had assented the not too young to run bill on May 31st, 2018, ending the age-long discrepancies in the age eligibility for contesting for political offices and giving the youth chance to be a major participant in political processes . But some political critics still argue that it is not enough to bring down the age eligibility when the country’s political environment is perennially hijacked by old players, shutting out youths from the mainstream politics .

Discussing the issue, the Anambra State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, observed that the political elites have contained to manipulate the future of the Nigerian youth, calling on youths to organize a peaceful revolution that seeks to stamp their voice and authority on national decisions. Also speaking, the Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa noted that though youth-related problems are not peculiar to Nigeria, all tiers of government must make inclusive efforts to address the vast challenges faced by the Nigerian youth.

The Anambra State President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Comrade Samuel Egwuatu, expressed sadness at what he described as state of the Nigerian youth, given the shortchanged nature of youth engagement in national development.

On his part, the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Awka Community, Comrade Obi-Ochije Modilim, who observed that the present political atmosphere in Nigeria favours the youth, urged those, who want to make impact at the national stage to first of all gain the confidence and endorsement of the people at the local level.

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The future of nigerian youths.

The 2020 #EndSars protests against police brutality which rocked the nation during the pandemic lockdown showcased the potentials and resolve of the teeming youth in Nigeria to drive political change and demand for good governance. Their use of the internet, digital platforms and social media to organise and stage the protests showed not only social and political awareness but creativity and alignment with global trend of democratic civil disobedience to effect political and social change.

The acephalous nature and message-centric rather than people-centric approach adopted by the peaceful protesters points to a deeper yearning for broader political change to reflect the realities of the average youth in Nigeria away from police brutality which triggered the protests. Mass unemployment, collapse of public education, widening inequality, etc., are some of the underlying issues that were triggered by the #endSARS protests which compelled a lot of youths to join the protests. This is 2021, the #EndSARS movement has lost traction and even though the searchlight of attention has been beamed on the issues raised by the movement, sustainable efforts have not been made to ensure these issues are dealt with decisively. A look at youth movements around the world will reveal that stronger political actions beyond peaceful protests need to be taken by young people to engender the change they yearn for.

The 2014 “Occupy Central” and “Umbrella protests” in Hong Kong was led by young people who wanted greater autonomy and changes to the way Hong Kong is governed by China. They were demanding greater democracy for the territory and protested against highly restrictive electoral reforms. This culminated in 2016 legislative elections that saw young people bonding together and forming pro-democracy political parties that won a record 53% of seats in the Hong Kong Legislative council including the election of Mr Nathan Law, a 23- year- old student who was one of the leaders in the umbrella protests. Mr Law was quoted after his victory as saying “Young people have a sense of urgency when it comes to the future.” Nigerian youths will do well to channel this alacrity towards engaging the platforms that political parties present. After all the best way to change the system is to do so from within the system; to obtain the Nigeria we want young people will need to venture into governance.

The emergence of Bobi Wine as a strong opposition figure in Ugandan politics threating the rule of the est ablishment is a clear marker of the sway young people have in politics. George Weah rode on the mantra of youth votes to rise to power in Liberia and even Joe Biden focused his campaign to elicit for young black votes in America which eventually tipped the scales in his favour.

Elections are due in Nigeria by 2023, that’s more than enough time for Nigerian youths to really effect the political change the country and the teeming youth population needs. The #EndSARS energy needs to be translated into political action, young people need to engage the political process and political platforms (political parties) more and eschew political apathy. Politics is a numbers game and 42% of Nigeria’s population is made up of young people, getting involved in the process will ensure more young and youth friendly candidates gets into governance. We’ve done the protests in a remarkable and historic fashion. 2023 is the time for more politically correct actions. With a strong youthful population of 42%, our political choices are not limited to the two major political parties.

Chinonso Kenneth, Research Assistant, HipCity Innovation Centre

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Youth Development in Nigeria/Africa: The Pathway to a Sustainable Future

To a more microscopic degree, youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) is widely touted as an untapped channel to present fundamental answers to a large chunk of the challenges threatening the fulfilment of the continent’s potential.

In its race towards building a suitable life for humans on the planet, commitment to youth development is the most important decision the world could ever make. This is necessary to maximise youth potential globally and inspire them to play critical leading roles in future development.

The world is constantly evolving, with the people witnessing the dramatic progressions happening before their very eyes. Everyone is sucked in, intrigued by the direction the world is headed. But despite countless studies, documentation, postulations and innovations, no one can tell for certain.

What new innovations would further change the world? What new policies would alter the way humans live? And what would be the role of new generations to come are only a few of many unanswered questions the people seek answers to every day.

Through the collective cluelessness, however, one factor has remained constant: the evolution of man. And central to this unstoppable evolution is the growing youth population globally.

Today, there are 1.2 billion young people in the world aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population, according to the United Nations . Also, over half of the world’s population is estimated to be under age 30, and today’s global youth generation is the largest in history.

In Africa, recent data estimates that almost 60% of its population is under the age of 25. And with almost a billion people under the age of 35 representing 22.7% of the world’s total youth population, it is one of the leading continents with the largest youth demographic. Similar numbers describe Nigeria’s youth population, where over 33.6 million are currently aged between 15 and 35.

These numbers are critical in understanding the importance of youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) as a vehicle for shaping the future.

Franklin D. Roosevelt , the great American leader who was a central figure in historic world events during the first half of the 20th century, couldn’t have described the importance of youth to global advancement better when he said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

While Roosevelt made this observation over seven decades ago, effective strategies toward youth development have more than before, become a global challenge.

A 2020 Global Youth Development Index, as referenced by the Commonwealth Organisation, reveals that although the conditions of young people have improved around the world by 3.1 per cent between 2010 and 2018, the progress remains slow.

This is expected. At least 20% of all youth in the developing world are not in education, training, or employment, according to USAID. At the same time, 5 million new jobs are said to be required monthly to keep youth unemployment, which is twice the adult unemployment rate, at its current high rate.

In evaluating the situation around youth development in Nigeria (and Africa), all shreds of evidence show the challenges are even more deep-rooted. Decay in the country and continent’s socio-economic and sociopolitical landscape makes the youth susceptible to neglect with damaging consequences.

Apart from suffering poor access to quality education, high unemployment rate, and lack of representation in public office, youth in this region are largely victims of poverty, drug abuse, discrimination, conflict, and other societal vices.

It is no surprise Nigeria is ranked 161st on the 2020 Global Youth Development Index, which measures the status of young people in 181 countries around the world.

In an ideal situation, the benefits of youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) can’t be overlooked.

Youth development on the continent will enhance the status of young people and empower them to build on their competencies and capabilities to thrive in any environment. It will also enable them to contribute to a politically stable and economically viable environment, ensuring their full participation as active citizens for the continent’s betterment.

This is why, in today’s digitally transformative world where youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) has humongous benefits for young individuals and general economic growth, there is a need for more urgent strategies to harness the talents and brilliance of the young generation coming through.

To achieve this much-needed development of young people on the continent, we will weigh some key strategies to employ.

A pivotal first step will involve the deliberate address of issues facing the youth and the engagement of young people across all spheres of society in finding lasting solutions. Through this strategy, youth programming, participation and partnership in support of government or agency development objectives can be constructively and effectively achieved.

As the United Nations enunciates in its message to member nations, active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies. With this, young people who are largely disenfranchised would feel more welcome and be more willing to play their part in national development.

Another critical strategy for consideration is the provision of access to new technological tools and a digital learning environment for young Africans, which would propel them to landmark achievements and position them as leaders in a fastly evolving digital world.

Currently, African youth’s involvement in digital transformation activities is impressive, with the creation of multi-billion tech startups and unicorns. But there’s no denying the gaps still to be filled. Compared to the rest of the world, Africa is yet to scratch the surface in the establishment of eco-friendly tech environments and institutions.

New age technology offers the continent a great opportunity to foster inclusive and sustainable growth among its young population while positioning itself to reach its potential as one of the world’s most promising economies. Considering the associated benefits, it is indeed an understatement to say it would be an unfathomable disaster for the continent to let the opportunity slip.

Perhaps the most critical factor in ensuring youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) is the involvement of young people in the unbalanced political dynamics, as nearly all decisions and policies with a life-changing impact on the citizenry are made by political leaders.

It is alarming that globally, less than 2 per cent of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, as the political landscape continues to be dominated by boomers.

In Nigeria, the Not Too Young To Run campaign remains but a farcical attempt at involving the youth in political positions, due to high entrance ceilings such as astronomical prices of party nomination forms and lack of political clout.

This necessitates an urgent need for more institutions dedicated to grooming and empowering young individuals with an interest in politics.

Opening this accessible pathway to youth involvement in politics is crucial to raising awareness of youth-related issues and the inevitable demand for actionable and practicable change. This standpoint is backed by various studies which have proven the youth as critical thinkers, change-makers, innovators, communicators, and leaders.

Interestingly, there are existing indicators of the possibility of these youth development strategies by many public and private organisations in Africa.

As a notable case study, driving real change in youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) through some of the strategies highlighted above is the Future Project. The youth-oriented project strives to build empowered citizens across Africa through inclusive enterprise and active citizenship while inspiring a network of young Africans to work together to solve the continent’s biggest and most urgent issues.

Human capital development projects embarked upon by the outfit in recent years have included a capacity-building Future Africa Internship Program where young Africans with less than two years of work experience are allowed to intern in their prospective area of expertise for deliberate career growth.

For 16 years, the noble project has also been instrumental in the celebration of young people who have challenged the status quo in their respective spheres of influence and have worked to build lifelong legacies that will transform generations for years to come.

The Future Project’s annual award ceremony, The Future Awards Africa , has grown to become a staff of validation and coveted recognition among young Africans making a life-changing impact on their community as well as the nation.

It bolsters general confidence that these initiatives in the drive towards youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) are providing a monumental base for more work to be done. And it’ll be interesting to see the offshoots in the coming years.

Conclusively, there is no better time than now to define the future of our world, and it is critical to acknowledge the importance of youth development as an integral part of that. All things fairly considered, it should be their world, and everyone else should only be living in it.

So, when leisurely chatter about the strategy required to impact a dream future for our world ensues, youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) should reign supreme. And when strategic deliberations on the actions to achieving great results are had, there should be no look beyond the template and blueprint being laid by the Future Project.

While these strategies may not represent the only angles of passage through the needle, they sure are a good place to start.

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#ToxicWorkplaces: The future of youth employment in Nigeria

Assistant Professor, Departments of Geography & Planning, Gender Studies, Queen's University, Ontario

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Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin receives funding from the Canada Research Chairs Program and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Queen's University, Ontario provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation CA.

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Since Nigeria declared its aspiration to be one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2020 , I have been doing research on the damaging impact of urban restructuring and economic growth on marginalized urban women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

However, in the past four years, my interest has widened to include the impact of the same issues on Nigerian youth. I have noticed that some youths have become “beneficiaries” of urban restructuring via job creation. Despite this, the city remains a paradoxical space.

While I now see sharply dressed youths rushing off to work, I also see youths engaged in various hustles to meet their daily needs. The latter observation is unsurprising, given that 63 per cent of young people (aged 15-34) are underemployed or unemployed .

Economic growth in Nigeria

There’s been a major focus on strengthening economic growth in Nigeria through neoliberal urban renewal projects like the transformation of urban spaces through real estate development and “ cleaning up the city ” to attract regional/global investors, which are expected to lead to job creation.

These projects have transformed the cityscape, including an increase in the number of elite consumer spaces and service sector businesses . Nigeria’s efforts to improve its business environment is shown by its increased ranking to 131st in 2019 in the world, from 169th in 2017, on the Doing Business Index .

In June 2021, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari told youth to “behave” for the country to attract investors . Given that youth unemployment is considered a “ticking timebomb” in Nigeria , it makes sense that Buhari is concerned about job creation.

However, to what extent is Buhari concerned about the livelihoods of youths who are eventually employed as a result of these investor opportunities? It is imperative to focus on the nature and consequences of emerging employment opportunities.

Is entrepreneurialism the answer?

Research on African youth unemployment has increasingly focused on precarity and uncertainties about the future . There has been emphasis on encouraging innovation and transforming youth from job seekers to job creators and employers , thus shifting responsibility for creating employment to the youth themselves.

However, entrepreneurialism has been questioned as a cure-all , as it does not adequately address structural issues and youth aspiration. There is what some scholars have called an “imagination gap” between the employment futures that policy-makers imagine for young people, and those that young people imagine for themselves.

In light of these concerns, increased scholarly attention has been paid to researching the United Nations policy commitment to full and productive employment and decent work for all from a youth-centred perspective. So far there is limited research on young people’s perspectives and experiences of work and visions for change.

Given deliberate efforts to increase stable wage employment, little is known about the extent to which these forms of employment are considered and experienced as “decent” by youth, and the effect of work on their psychosocial well-being.

Nigerian labour laws

On paper, Nigeria has a relatively strong labour act that some have argued favours the employee . But the labour law is murky on the duration of the work day , and the minimum wage is far from being a living wage . Nigerian labour law is also largely silent on issues of workplace harassment.

It is no secret that many employers are often in gross violation of Nigeria labour laws . Employers are rarely sued for violations of the labour act because most people simply can’t afford to take legal action. There are also many government officials who own private businesses, meaning they rarely face penalties .

More so, some youth have told me that there’s very little that they can do because they fear backlash and being blacklisted as an insubordinate worker, thereby risking any future job prospects.

And so, they endure, placated by imaginations about future upward social mobility, no matter how rare they might be. These imaginations help youths develop coping strategies to survive their toxic work environments.

#HorribleBosses

On March 21, 2022, journalist Damilare Dosunmu wrote an exposé about workers’ experiences with alleged tyranny at Bento Africa , a startup company. The article details allegations against the workplace, including employees being forced to work non-stop, verbal abuse, threats of job termination and abrupt termination.

This form of toxic work culture was further corroborated the next day on Twitter using the hashtags #HorribleBosses and #ToxicWorkplaces . Thousands of tweets highlighted stories of emotional and physical abuse and inveighed against appalling working conditions.

On March 23, a well-known Nigerian comedian, Mr. Macaroni, brilliantly captured this trending issue in “Oga and His New Driver.” In this skit, the employer tells his new employee that he doesn’t like lazy people who are paid and yet “run online and … say their employer is toxic.”

The employer also provides a long, ridiculous (and arguably impossible) list of tasks that should be accomplished in one day.

After the employer is finished listing the job expectation and the work hours (3 a.m. to 11 p.m.), the employee hands him a knife and says, “ Kuku kill me sir.”

Clearly, youth are not actually asking their employers to kill them in real life, but they are increasingly resisting and expressing that employers are killing them. Will President Buhari have the audacity to tell businesses and employers to “behave” for the sake of youth well-being? Or will he continue to let them be exploited?

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Will the young people in Nigeria ever become ‘future leaders’?

In this blog by Deborah Sabinus for the #MakeEducationWork campaign , the young creator explains how young Nigerians are vying to earn a seat at the table in policy-making and their success and frustrations so far.

Shedrach is the youngest councillor in the history of his local government. He is also a graduate of engineering and works as a construction Engineer. He took an interest in politics at the age of 8, and was always with his father who was a party chairman at that time. He was one of those individuals you just knew that was born with leadership skills and it was easy to see that politics is in his DNA.

Politics is not just about governing, it’s about using the platform for developing the community, and empowering people. As much as one seeks to build the future, one needs to build their interest and ensure credibility.

As the Nigerian population continues to increase, so does the number of youth. In spite of the prospects that this number holds, young people in Nigeria are largely marginalized from governance, leaving them to counter their continued exclusion. This is evidenced by the lower percentage of youth that hold political and leadership positions in the country.

Meaningful youth participation and leadership require that young people have opportunities, capacities, and are able to benefit from an enabling environment and relevant evidence-based programmes and policies at all levels. It is about having the wherewithal to influence decision making as well as engaging in actions and activities so as to contribute to building a better society. 

Making room for young people.

It was largely because of this that Shedrach took up different leadership positions during his tertiary education and was one of the respected student leaders. His active participation in the student’s union government formed a very good foundation for his political career.

After completing the compulsory NYSC service, he was ready to serve his country with the leadership skills he possessed. To his dismay, he quickly found out that there was no room for him at any level in government as past and present leaders in government didn’t make efforts to accommodate young people or incorporate them into active leadership.

The Department for International Development (DFID) submits that there is a major gap that is evident between youth who have been offered services as beneficiaries and when they have been politically engaged as true leaders and drivers of their own development and that of their community. The latter has consistently resulted in the greatest impact.

As the National Youth Policy would have us believe , Nigerian youth are faced with a myriad of challenges including poverty, multidimensional discrimination, unemployment, barriers to education, and limited opportunities that constitutes a bane to their political participation and inclusion, thus leading to a lower percentage of youth that hold political and leadership positions.

However, most of the present political leaders became exposed to politics during their youthful years but have refused to hand over power. It is evident from the foregoing that young people in Nigeria are marginalized.

The challenge.

This was one of the challenges Shedrach faced when he contested the position of a councillor in his region. His belief that politics is open to everyone, especially young people spurred his tenacity to pursue his ambition.  

It is no news that people under the age of 35 are rarely found in formal political leadership positions and it is very common practice to refer to politicians as ‘young’ in Nigeria if they are below 40-45 years of age.

Youth is not adequately represented in political institutions and processes such as parliament’s, political parties, members of the Senate and public administration.

Participation Process.

Non- participation in active politics is the sad reality of the Nigerian youths living in Nigeria. It is a situation that virtually every young Nigerian can relate to. This is fast becoming a source of worry to many young people who are interested in politics and leadership.

There is sufficient evidence from around the world to argue that young people have asserted their role, influence and importance in governance by championing political causes and making giant strides. 

Shedrach insisted that  “the hindrance to the active participation in government is ‘the fear of becoming. 

He said “young people are usually afraid of the outcome before they even take a step. Taking a step is the best way to garner support and young people need to be prepared and get involved in full-time politics”.

He equally reiterated that “the change we desire to save our country will happen when there are more youths in government as no one knows the issues of young people in this generation and how to tackle them if not the youths”

He then ended by saying that “young people are the leaders of today & tomorrow and should not be afraid to take up space where they belong as this will ensure the achievement of development”.

The focus of youths in terms of their engagement in the political world is a relatively new priority particularly in the recent events of the end-sars protest held in October 2020 by Nigerian youths all over the world. This marked the start of a new era of Civic awakening for young people in Nigeria.

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Despite the efforts of the government to silence them, the Nigerian youths have begun with their innovative strategies to put young people at the Hem of affairs for the 2023 elections. It is time the future leaders became the future and be represented in active-decision making. 

UNDP supported a youth-based CSO coalition to actively participate in the constitution review process, including submission of memorandum to the constitution review committees of the National Assembly. A Nigerian Youth Agenda on Political Participation is being developed ahead of the election together with a Nigerian youth party Forum. The forum will be used to deliberate on issues of common interest and challenges among other things.

Just like the popular saying ‘Rome was not built in a day’ the active participation of young Nigerians can only begin with a step in the right direction from the grassroots before expanding the frontier for political participation. A certain young man from a marginalized region in the southeastern part of the country has even indicated his interest to run for the presidency! 

This is evidenced in the number of young persons vying and contesting for political positions ahead of the 2023 general elections. I think this is a welcome development and long overdue because if the Nigerian youth keep waiting for a seat at the table, they might have to wait forever.

We may not have gotten there yet but we are definitely on the path that will lead us there as young people are breaking out and carving out seats for themselves at the table. 

About Deborah

Deborah is a young ambitious leader who aims to make impact with one step at a time. She is passionate about furnishing young people with the skills they need for assessing opportunities and development for their future. She is equally passionate about women inclusion and representation.

She is a social media creative who uses the power of story telling to advocate for change. She loves to volunteer and has volunteered with both local and International organizations such as Nigerian Red Cross, 360 awareness, we make change, iAscend, ONE and Care2people. She became a Commonwealth leader and Women-at-risk-foundation campus ambassador in 2020. She is currently a global youth ambassador for theirworld and has participated in virtual workshops for driving youth and development campaigns.

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Youths’ engagement in Nigerian politics: Empowering the next generation

  In Nigeria, a country with a youthful population, the engagement of young people in politics is crucial for the nation’s progress and development. The…

In Nigeria, a country with a youthful population, the engagement of young people in politics is crucial for the nation’s progress and development. The youth represent a vibrant and dynamic segment of society, with fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deep desire for change. Recognizing these potentials, efforts are underway to empower the next generation and actively involve them in the political landscape. In this article, we explore the importance of youth engagement in Nigerian politics, the challenges they face, and the transformative impact they can have on the nation’s future.

A call for inclusion and representation

Nigeria’s youth population constitutes a significant majority, with over 60 percent of Nigerians under the age of 30. Despite this demographic advantage, young people have historically faced barriers to meaningful political participation. However, there is a growing recognition of the need for their inclusion and representation in the decision-making processes.

Efforts are being made to create platforms for youth voices to be heard and heeded. Youth-focused organizations, political parties, and civil society groups are mobilizing young individuals, encouraging their active involvement in political activities, and amplifying their concerns. This shift towards inclusion acknowledges the invaluable contributions the youth can make to shaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

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Empowering the youth: Education and capacity building

To effectively engage in politics, young Nigerians must be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and opportunities. Education and capacity-building initiatives are essential in empowering the youth and nurturing their leadership potential.

Educational institutions and civil society organizations are taking steps to introduce political education programs, encouraging critical thinking, civic awareness, and a deeper understanding of democratic processes. By equipping young people with the tools to analyze political issues and engage in constructive dialogue, these initiatives are fostering a generation of politically conscious individuals.

In addition, mentorship programs, leadership training, and internships are being provided to nurture young leaders and expose them to the complexities of governance. These opportunities enable them to develop practical skills, build networks, and gain hands-on experience in political environments. Empowering the youth with knowledge and skills enhances their ability to contribute meaningfully to the political discourse.

Obstacles to youth engagement

Despite the progress made, significant challenges persist in youth engagement in Nigerian politics. Limited access to resources, political apathy, and a lack of representation in key decision-making bodies hinder the full participation of young Nigerians.

Financial constraints often prevent young individuals from running for political office or supporting political causes. Political campaigns require substantial funding, making it difficult for young candidates to compete with established and well-funded opponents. Addressing this issue requires the provision of financial support and the creation of avenues for young people to access resources to enable their political aspirations.

Furthermore, political apathy among young Nigerians remains a concern. Many feel disillusioned by the existing political system and disengaged from the electoral process. This disconnection can be attributed to a lack of trust in political institutions, inadequate representation of youth interests, and a perceived lack of opportunities for meaningful participation. To address this, efforts must be made to build trust, create platforms for dialogue, and demonstrate that young voices are valued and can bring about positive change.

The transformative potential of youth engagement

Despite these challenges, youth engagement in Nigerian politics holds immense transformative potential. The energy, passion, and fresh perspectives of young Nigerians can drive innovative solutions, challenge the status quo, and bring about positive change across various sectors.

When young people are given the opportunity to participate actively in politics, their impact can be far-reaching. They can champion issues such as education reform, employment opportunities, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. By amplifying their voices, young Nigerians can reshape policies, advocate for their communities, and inspire broader social change.

Moreover, youth engagement in politics fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among young individuals. It instils a commitment to the democratic process, encourages a culture of transparency, and holds political leaders accountable for their actions. By actively participating in the political arena, young Nigerians can contribute to building a more inclusive, responsive, and representative democracy.

Youth engagement in Nigerian politics is not merely an aspiration; it is a necessity for the nation’s progress and development. As Nigeria’s largest demographic group, young people have the potential to shape the country’s future in significant ways. Efforts to include and empower them in the political landscape are essential for a more inclusive, vibrant, and responsive democracy.

Through education, capacity building, increased representation, and the creation of platforms for meaningful participation, young Nigerians can drive transformative change. Overcoming the obstacles they face and embracing their potential as catalysts for progress will ensure that the voices and aspirations of Nigeria’s youth are not only heard but also acted upon.

By harnessing the energy and passion of the next generation, Nigeria can forge a path toward a more equitable, prosperous, and democratic future. It is incumbent upon stakeholders, political leaders, civil society organizations, and the youth themselves to collectively work towards creating an enabling environment that empowers young Nigerians and allows their voices to be central in shaping the nation’s political landscape.

Amina Salihu Alfa, a student of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, wrote from Zaria

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• next generation
• Nigerian Politics
• Youths’ engagement
• 1 year ago Exploring prospects for sustainable youths’ engagement in Kano

ANALYSIS: Nigerian youths and what the Future holds ahead of 2023

As the 2023 elections approach, two major political aspirants have come out openly to declare their interests. The two individuals, Bola Tinubu; National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar; an ex-Vice President of Nigeria, are not new in the country’s politics.

Tinubu played a huge role in taking South-west politics to the Federal level from the days of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the now ruling APC and its common knowledge that he has been eyeing number 1 seat in the country.

He has built a formidable force across Southwest states and seen by his admirers as a trait of a great leader whose judgment on national issues should be respected, particularly for his role in ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 and 2019 respectively. .

POLITICS NIGERIA reported that Atiku on the other hand has had a strong aspiration to lead Nigeria since his first outing in 1992 when he contested alongside Moshood Kashimawo Abiola for the presidential ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He has repeatedly contested and has the followership to give the APC a good fight in the general elections.

The two major contestants currently in PDP and APC are certainly not interested in allowing younger ones to take charge.

This was made public at the palace of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, when Tinubu openly said Nigerian youths would only lead the country after he had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of ruling the country as a president.

“You won’t allow the elderly ones to pass and you haven’t become president. What if you become president, will you chase us out of town? You will grow old and become president. But I will become the president first.” the 69-year-old politician said.

For Atiku, the youths need to compete with his contemporaries if they really want to contest in the 2023 elections. He made this position during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence.

Speaking with a straight face said, “let the youths compete if they want power.”

Long reign of disbelief in youths

For years now, Nigerian leaders have not seen the youths in a position that could place them in the drivers’ seats. The incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 said Nigerian youths are lazy.

“More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free,” he said.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa in 2010, Ibrahim Babangida, ex-military president said youths are not capable of leading Nigeria. For him, “a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience.”

Aside from these individuals, many others have argued that young Nigerians prefer to rant on social media, particularly on Twitter than taking proactive steps to lead the country. Political pundits have also said 2023 does not appear like the year for the youths and if there would be change, they should start preparing now ahead of the 2027 elections.

Money as hindrance?

In the true sense of it, the APC and the PDP are the two major parties in the country and except there is a miracle, the two parties will continue to produce who governs Nigeria.

The danger attached to this is that despite the fact that the law provides that a 35-year-old person can run, the two major parties in the country have failed to do a review of nomination form fees for office seekers to deepen inclusion, and strengthen national democracy.

The gubernatorial expression of interest and nomination form sold for N1 million and N20 million respectively in the PDP in 2019. The party charged N12 million for both the expression of interest and nomination form for the Office of the President, N3.5million for Senate, N2.5million for House of Representatives, and N600,000 for the House of Assembly.

In APC, it sold expressions of interest for N5 million and N40 million for nomination form for the Office of President, N7 million for Senate, N3.5million for House of Representatives, and N850,000, for the House of Assembly.

“We should be looking for independent youths that will not go cap in hand to beg the old politicians to lend them the required funds. No old politician will bankroll the youths with his funds to retire him. If only the youths can reduce the money they spend on frivolities like clubbing and merriments, buying nomination forms and even funding their elections will not be a problem. They need to be independent minded if they will stand the chance to wrest power from the old politicians, former spokesperson of the APC, Yekini Nabena, opined.

In reaction to this, a veteran musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, has warned Nigerian youths to avoid joining the APC and the PDP.

“If you’re a youth and ready to contest for any position in 2023 please come out. The most important thing is to avoid the All Progressives Party, APC. Come out for the presidency , the House of Representatives just like Sowore, Yul Edochie,” he recently said in a video posted on Instagram.

As the agitation for the inclusion of youth in the governance of Nigeria continues to gain relevance, Omoyele Sowore, has expressed his views on how it could be achieved. He said “what we have now are young people who are mostly hungry, not for relevance and power but for picking up crumbs from the table of people who sometimes are not even as intelligent as they are.”

“Youths are the leaders of tomorrow”

The above quote has become a gospel without the truth in Nigeria. This has been the slogan since 1960 and the tomorrow that youths are expected to lead is yet to come. And the cycle goes on and on.

To make an impact in the forthcoming general election, there is a need to create innovative ideas that the electorate can buy into, building alliances/coalitions with various pressure groups and being ecumenical in movement with already existing coalitions or political parties.

To ensure youths get to power, they must take advantage of their numerical strength and queue behind a candidate that will make a difference in their lives. More than half of all voters, 51.1 percent, are between 18 and 35, according to INEC. Hence, 2023 is a year to form a critical mass as witnessed during the #EndSARS protest and be a part of the decision on who becomes next president of the country.

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One comment.

My only consternation from the piece bugs down on what could be defined as the age of a youth. All past heads of Nigerian states were below the age of 50 when they governed, before the second coming of the Otta brute in 1999. Including, I am not sure the supposed doctor of Zoology was above 50 years of age when he assumed the leadership of the states of Nigeria.

WHAT PART OF THE CONSTITUTION PRECLUDES THE YOUTHS FROM ASPIRING TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE NIGERIAN LAND?

What are the cravings for a special breed status for the youths all about? Anybody who wish the office should go out and work for it. It should not be given to any age group on a platter.

““Youths are the leaders of tomorrow”.

TIME TO DISCARD AND DUST THE ABOVE APHORISM IN RELATION TO THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS. SHOULD Yahoo BOYS LAY CLAIMS TO THE PRESIDENCY, ALSO OR SHOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED AS “leaders of tomorrow”?

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August 28, 2021

The Emergence of a New Nigeria

The greatest satisfaction of the victory comes from battles won without violence. We must give peace a chance while protesting

By Dan Orbih

As the #EndSARS protests continue in Nigeria and major cities around the world, it is clear that we are in a momentous point in our history.  Nigerian youth have finally arisen for justice and we, as parents and leaders, must not fail them. This is indeed a time of reckoning. We are now inescapably confronted with the dark reality we had for far too long conveniently and insensitively deferred to a day with no name.

With the unfolding of horrific stories and experiences of pain and brutality by the police and especially its notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) shared by more and more young Nigerians and their surviving families, it crushes the soul to see just how many youths have been cut off in their prime by those who are supposed to protect them. In the midst of this long-overdue national catharsis, it is even more heartbreaking that some hard-hearted law enforcement officials are still attacking peaceful protesters.

As the youths continue to resist government overtures and threats and maintain their domination of public spaces, it is now clear that our young people are fed up with empty words and failed promises. This time, they will not sell themselves short. They demand action, meaningful action and we cannot fail them!

For one, the Nigerian government must maintain an approach of constructive engagement with the protesting youths, resisting its famed instincts of repression and force. The government must realize that this is not just a moment for the youths, but one for the country. A country built on the bedrock of justice and equity, benefits everyone.

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Nigerian youths have long been victims of a failed system; a failed system defined by extrajudicial threats and attacks by law enforcement, insecurity, substandard education, lack of economic and employment opportunities, limited space for political participation, non-inclusion in public policy formulation and implementation, and lack of conducive environment for the free expression of their creative energy and innovation. Nigeria has indeed failed its youth. Nevertheless, the youths of this country have trudged on, defying these great odds to record stunning victories.

From technology and innovation to academics, sports, entertainment and third sector participation, Nigerian youths have long been making a statement of determination and persistence.

This moment affords us a unique opportunity to critically appraise the current Nigeria system while crafting out deliberate strategies that address the inevitable holistic reform of our system. The cardinal points for the growth and sustainability of any nation are hinged on leadership, education, technology and security.

As leaders we owe this new generation, the responsibility of taking conscious steps to bridge the identified gaps as we prepare the foundation for the youth to take over from us. We must begin to build systems void of political party sentiments but bound by progressive principles and ideologies. The time has come to validate the belief that the youths are the future of tomorrow with clear actions. If Nigeria is to thrive, it must work for everyone.

It has become imperative to build a merit-based system where every youth in this country can be confident of accessing the best opportunities available purely based on their capabilities.

The greatest satisfaction of the victory comes from battles won without violence. We must give peace a chance while protesting.

Related News

• Legislating convicted politicians out of state pardon list waste of time — OCJ Okocha, SAN
• IMF to FG: Protect the poor from impact of petrol price hike 
• FG, PLANE introduce centralised e-learning platform for Nigerian learners,teachers

History, through the resolve of our youths, has presented us with a golden chance to open a new chapter. We must seize it!

• Chief Dan Osi Orbih is the PDP National Vice-chairman South-South.

Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

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THE ROLES OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS IN NATION BUILDING: CHALLENGES

Related Papers

Beyond Rhetoric: Youth Empowerment and Political Voice in Nigeria

Isaac Albert

This book documents the state of youth empowerment and political voice in the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria. The conclusion in all of the chapters that must is still left to be done at integrating the youth into the governance system in the country. But the recently passed "Not-too-young-to-run bill passed by Nigeria's National Assembly provides the impetus for the Nigerian youth to now take the future in theirs hands.

… OF YOUTH RESTIVENESS, VIOLENCE AND PEACE …

Amobi P . Chiamogu, PhD

Nigerian nation is faced with so many challenges. These have earned the state a disreputable status in terms of development amongst comity of nations. X-raying the state from creation to date, to a large extent, there is no denial of the fact that the unpleasant situations hinge so much on the kind of governance the state has been subjected to over the decades. Those that have wielded power in the country have been self-centred that the will and the good of the governed have been relegated to the background in order to actualize their personal interests. In spite of claims by successive regimes to have governed to better the lives of the citizenry, the obvious remains that what is obtainable leaves much to be desired. This study traces the causes of these challenges to groups that have governed and/or governing the country, thus, adopted the elite theory for its analysis. With the aid of the theory, it shows the extent the activities of these few persons have contributed in stagnating and stifling development in the state. It concludes that there is need for an honest political leadership that would bring about the much needed development in the country. Therefore, makes a case for the restructuring of the state to give room for the emergence of purposeful, viable and honest leadership with vision and strong will as one of the ways forward.

Chigozirim Odinkalu

IJSRP Journal

Security is an enabler of national development. There can be no sustainable development without peace and security in any nation. Building peace and adequate security involves a wide range of efforts by diversed actors in government and civil society at the community, national international levels to address the root causes of violence and ensure that people have freedom from fear of humiliation, war and conflicts. This paper, therefore, x-rays peace and security as necessities for sustainable national transformation. It also discussed some concepts, challenges and came up with the way forward.

THE NIGERIAN STATE AND LEADERSHIP QUESTION: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL

International Journal of Management, Policy and Administrative Studies IJMPAS

Nigerian Nation Is Faced With So Many Challenges. These Have Earned The State A Disreputable Status In Terms Of Development Amongst Comity Of Nations. Xraying The State From Creation To Date, To A Large Extent, There Is No Denial Of The Fact That The Unpleasant Situations Hinge So Much On The Kind Of Governance The State Has Been Subjected To Over The Decades. Those That Have Wielded Power In The Country Have Been Self-centred That The Will And The Good Of The Governed Have Been Relegated To The Background In Order To Actualize Their Personal Interests. In Spite Of Claims By Successive Regimes To Have Governed To Better The Lives Of The Citizenry, The Obvious Remains That What Is Obtainable Leaves Much To Be Desired. This Study Traces The Causes Of These Challenges To Groups That Have Governed And/or Governing The Country, Thus, Adopted The Elite Theory For Its Analysis. With The Aid Of The Theory, It Shows The Extent The Activities Of These Few Persons Have Contributed In Stagnating And Stifling Development In The State. It Concludes That There Is Need For An Honest Political Leadership That Would Bring About The Much Needed Development In The Country. Therefore, Makes A Case For The Restructuring Of The State To Give Room For The Emergence Of Purposeful, Viable And Honest Leadership With Vision And Strong Will As One Of The Ways Forward.

ogbaji udochukwu

EDITORIAL COMMENT The Department of Public Administration was established in Federal Polytechnic, Oko in March, 1999 and accredited in 2000. The department first started with Higher National Diploma (HND) programme and later mounted National Diploma (ND) programme in 2002 following the successful resource inspection. Since then, the Department has enjoyed full accreditation status and has been producing high class administrators capable of assuming leadership roles in all fields of human endeavors. The International Journal of Public Administration (IJOPAD) is a scholarly and professional journal based in the Department of Public Administration, Federal Polytechnic, Oko. It is a regular forum for intellectual research and discourse on current and contemporary issues in Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and other related disciplines. The Editorial crew of the International Journal of Public Administration (IJOPAD) is happy to present this maiden edition to you. This edition contains valuable information on African Leadership and Governance, International Monetary Fund and World Bank Stabilization Programme, Democracy and E-governance, Racism, Nigeria Securing Challenges and Development, Entrepreneurship and Poverty Alleviation, and many more. We hope you will find this special edition very interesting. Ifeoma E. Ugbo Editor-in-Chief, Head, Department of Public Administration Federal Polytechnic, Oko - Nigeria

Dr. Muhammad K. Isa

kingsley ugboja

japhet hungbo

Ignorance is a very serious disease which keeps those suffering from it stunted for life. There is a dire need to socialize the entire citizenry, especially children and the youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow, about the society or the State. The organization of instructions, programmes, sensitization, and training for young citizens in a formal school setting cultivates in them desirable habits, values, behavioral patterns, spirit of nationalism and patriotism that instills changes in the citizens towards productive rewards to the state. Every human being is a citizen of a state, but most people are unconscious or ignorant of this. Some, conscious of it, often expect the state to provide them with every human need, while they shy away from contributing to the well-being of the state, owing to their very poor socialization orientation, or a complete lack of it. Citizens are role players in the society; without concrete and effective socialization, they lack the capacity to effectively function productively as members of their state and beyond. This paper advocates an education that can sensitize, socialize and induct the youths on the need to give up their contemporary retaliatory violent and destructive conducts which is threatening the foundation of Nigeria. Such education and punitive measures to purge the adult perpetrators of official corruption and self-enrichment by embezzling public funds, which can further reform feuding leaders from inciting the youths against their opponents in government will usher in the tranquility all of us are yearning for.

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