Youth have the ability to bring a change in any country. They can be a force for change in a democracy. Nigeria’s youth population is in several millions and projected to be even higher over the next decade.
In July 2022, the UN released its World Population Proposals, projecting that by 2050 the number of young persons in Nigeria will hit 262 million.
This is a massive force that can be explored to strengthen democracy, good governance and overall social economic development.
This is more imperative as Nigeria recently celebrated silver jubilee of uninterrupted democratic governance.
Rev. Fr. Jimbil Moses, says it is reassuring that the military has taken the backseat in the political affairs of the nation.
He, however, acknowledged that certain principles of democracy had not been fully implemented within that period.
“If we did the right things, we would have had a better country, a country far more developed and organised than we have at the moment.
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“Our elections have been less than perfect, the arms of government have not exactly been popular in the application of justice, equity and sound economic policies, which constitute the hallmark of any functional democracy.
According to him, beyond the insecurity there is also the challenge of youth unemployment and economic insecurity.
Moses said because the potential of youths has not been fully harnessed, many of them have no choice than to seek greener pastures abroad.
“This is the situation in Nigerian youth after 25 years of democracy. Everything wrong with Nigeria today imparts negatively on the youths because eventually, they are the products of the environment that groomed them.
“The youths must be made to believe in the integrity of the system, the constituted authority, guaranteed equal opportunities regardless of ethnic background or social status.
“Merits should be respected and the educational system must be made to work. In short, justice should be made a priority. Young people have to believe there is a future to aspire to in this country.
“The industry and creativity of the young should be given a conducive environment to blossom because they are the key to the future of Nigeria’’, he said.
Daniel Agada, a lawyer, said youths constituted the fulcrum of every society.
Agada said that the youths are the engine that drives every society, adding that no society can effectively manage its affairs without the dexterity and vigour of the youths.
According to him, no society can move forward while neglecting its youths.
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“The youths, in 25 years of Nigeria’s unbroken democracy experience have not been fairly treated.
They have been generally neglected by successive governments in terms of political appointments and even elective positions’’, he argued.
He said the consequence of the development is poverty, hunger and unemployment among young people, which make them vulnerable to manipulation by politicians.
“To get it right, I strongly recommend the following: The government at all levels should reinvigorate all the current youth empowerment programmes for effectiveness”, he said.
He urged the incumbent government at all levels to prioritise the appointment of youths into political offices, saying this would give them a sense of belonging and prepare them for higher leadership positions.
However, some stakeholders think otherwise, arguing that youths’ visibility in the political space has improved in recent years.
According to Callistus Ikwuazom, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology Minna, youths have increasingly engaged in the democratic process.
Ikwuazom said that their participation in elections, advocacy and policy discussions has grown significantly.
“The “Not Too Young to Run” movement and other youth-led initiatives demonstrate the determination to shape the political relandscape,” he said.
“The streets are filled with graduates seeking opportunities, vulnerable to manipulation by political elites for their own gain.
“On digital empowerment, on a positive note, some initiatives have bridged digital gaps, providing skills and learning opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.
” Connectivity, digital learning platforms, and workplace readiness programs have empowered the youth,” he said.
The lecturer said that the government should focus on education and skills development to enable young persons to fulfil their dreams.
” Youth representation in decision-making bodies is essential, encouraging more young people to run for office and actively participate in governance.
” Establish mentorship programs connecting experienced leaders with young aspirants.
“Teach young Nigerians about democracy, governance, and their role as responsible citizens,” he said.
According to him, the youths are a potent force for positive change. By empowering them, fostering inclusivity, and addressing challenges, the country could guarantee a secure democracy.
In an attempt to address youth-related challenges, the federal government created the Ministry of Youth Development, removing it as an appendix of Ministry of Sports.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, told NAN that the ministry provides a platform where young people can address issues that affect them.
Olawande said that the platform would include all youth leaders of ethnic groups and would be used to ascertain what young people have in their respective areas.
“If we can identify products in your areas that can be used to make or create goods for production, it will be welcomed.
“We can meet with all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to channel our complaints.
“For example, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) gives education scholarships to young people, the youths need to know about these things”, he said.
According to him, efforts will be intensified toward improving the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) training centres to be visible and viable for young people.
On lack of start-up grants after training, he said the ministry would sensitise relevant agencies on to support youths with start-up grants to realise their dreams in various areas, including agriculture.
He said the Federal Government also introduced student loan scheme which was meant for the youths to access interest-free facility for their educational pursuits in tertiary institutions.
He said that with the scheme, undergraduates would no longer drop out of school because of financial difficulties.
The minister said the government also approved N110 billion in capital to start-ups and early growth stage businesses for youths.
According to him, the approval is for start-ups and early growth stage businesses via the restructured Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
He said the ministry was in partnership with Bank of Industry (BoI) to set up a ‘NextGen’ Bank to nurture youth entrepreneurs with loans and business support.
“We have approval for the establishment of the Presidential Initiative on Youth Clusters in agriculture, manufacturing and ICT,’’ he said.
Observers say the authorities should closely monitor the disbursed grants and start-ups to ensure their effective use while political mentorship remains vital.
Economically empowered and politically savvy youths will be assets for the nation’s political growth.
Franca Ofili writes from News Agency of Nigeria
