Nigerian youth have been called upon to start leveraging on their voting capacity in order to get themselves involved in governance.
The call is contained in a Communiqué, issued at the end of the North Central Town Hall Meeting tagged: ”The Nigerian Youth in Governance, Status and the Way Forward” organised by Grace 95.5 FM in Lokoja on Friday.
The communiqué which was signed by Mr Adesoji Adesina, Head of Station, Grace FM, said the meeting was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to have a discussion around the status and challenges of Nigerian youth in governance.
The communique also expressed worries over the spate of irregularities in Nigeria electoral system and urged government at all levels to muscle the political will to bring to justice political offenders in the country.
It noted that stakeholders at the meeting, observed that the Nigerian political environment was saturated with too many factors that served as hindrance to youth participation
It mentioned such as monetisation of the processes, inadequate and unfavorable law.
Others were lack of interest in development and governance, skills and politics, harmful political culture and lack of trust amongst the youth, youth illiteracy among others.
The communiqué recommended that government should start the implementation of the law on electoral finances in Nigeria and also create an enabling political environment to allow more women participation in politics.
The youth were, however, urged to start building interest in vocations that would better place them for effective leadership.
According to the communiqué, female youth must mobilise their voting numbers for their fellow women as those aspiring for leadership should start from the rudimentary level.
The group further stressed the need for youth to develop the mindset to run for offices to win and not for appointments, adding that female youth should start working beyond affirmative action in politics.
“Female youth must live above political mobilisers, female campaign coordinators and aspire too. The Youth should start leveraging on their voting capacity to be in governance.
“Youth should start sensitising themselves to the need to shun money inducement during electioneering.
”Youth should equip themselves intellectually to better ask questions on governance and participation,” the communique concluded.
The meeting had in attendance, prominent personalities in the country which included Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Affairs.
Mr Imani Odey, Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Electronic Media, Mr Kunle Lawal, Rector, Electoral College Nigeria, and Mary Jacob-Okwuosa, National Coordinator, Activista Nigeria, among others attended.
