Nigerian Youths have been urged to take ownership of the democratic space and actively participate in governance.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the African Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) made the call in Abuja at the National Youth Mentorship Conference on Sustainable Democratic Governance themed: “Building Sustainable Pathways for Civic Leadership, Electoral participation and Democratic Governance”.
Addressing participants, the resident electoral commissioner in Plateau state Prof. Sam Egwu urged youths to use election as a peaceful means of expressing dissatisfaction with the government and choosing competent leaders.
Speaking on “Voter Apathy in Nigeria’s Electoral process: Implications for Democratic Legitimacy,” Prof. Egwu said young people had a critical role in reversing the country’s declining voter tunout.
In their presentations, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative Studies Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman and the Executive Director of AYGF Dr Arome Salifu explained that youth inclusion was a fundamental requirement for legitimate and sustainable democracy because they constitute more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
Discussions also focused on combating political apathy and thuggery which were also highlighted by stakeholders as threats to democracy.
Participants were urged to transition from social media activism to active civic engagement. The conference also emphasized the need for international mentorship to equip young people with the skills necessary to lead and shape future governance.
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(Editor..Roluke Ogundele)
