Key Points
- Civic education equips Nigerian youth with the knowledge to lead politically.
- Lowering political barriers ensures young people access leadership opportunities.
- Technology empowers youth to influence and reshape political narratives.
Nigeria for instance is one of the most populous countries in a continent that is renowned for its youthful population. This sector is nearly 70% below the age of 35, which means that young people give a good stamping ground of prospect, energy and creativity. But the Youth of Nigeria remain politically marginalized even though demographically they are the largest voters.
The society needs to change this in order to develop besides being moral it is also strategically right for the country. Below are five strategies to follow in order to have young people of Nigeria leading political change.
1. Civic education and political awareness
The following points therefore show that there is need for involving Nigerian young in the political transformation, In this respect a strong basis of civic education and political awareness has to be laid. A cross section of the youth in Nigeria especially the younger generations is relatively politically sensitive so this greatly hampers the young persons ability to be actively involved in politics.
As stated by the journal of social studies, those focused on availing the young people with knowledge on the constitution, matters relating to the government, procedures of voting, as well as their importance in the political process. Working hand in hand and in collaboration with the NGOs, the government and the institutions of learning should ensure the integration of civics into learning system, nurturing the youth by creating occasions which are extracurricular such as the youth parliaments.
2. Reducing political entrants’ obstacles
Access into politics through any political party of the youth’s choice is very expensive for the young people in Nigeria. The guardian stated that this makes it all but difficult for the youth to participate in an election or even ascend the political ladder because nomination forms are very expensive, they must raise campaign money and because the systems within the parties are deeply entrenched.
Reducing these barriers calls for reforms. Daily trust exposes that Political parties should be called to implement youth-friendly practices like secure positions of young political personnel in party structures and in the list of candidates as well as reduced number of candidates fees for the candidates under the age of thirty-five. As explained by Punch, modification on campaign financing should promote transparency and limit the role of such money in democracy to ensure that victory is earned through merit than wealth.
For the sake of young desire, both governmental and non-governmental organizations might also establish funding awards and mentorship programs. These steps will enable young people especially the Nigerian youths to secure leadership positions and consequently transform system.
3. Maximizing social media and technology
Young people in Nigeria are leading this digital revolution because technology and social media have changed the political action. For mobilization, advocacy, and agenda setting, these social media apps like Twitter, Facebook and even Instagram have grown to be awesome weapons.
These instruments are what young Nigerians must employ to announce their political intent, to strategize grassroots mobilization and demand accountability from their political masters. One of the most powerful instances of digital activism led by youths the #NotTooYoungTo Run project was very instrumental in lobbying for the amendment of the constitution to reduce the age limit for contestants.
Besides social networks, novelty approaches in technology such as mobile application and blockchain may enhance the voter registration and challenge for increased openness in elections, and promote the provision of forums for public engagement. Voting for and employing technologies, young Nigerians want to redefine political activism and advance structural transformation.
4. Boosting young representation in government
The Nigerian young must also be concentrated in government so if we want them to be our political engines. Quite significantly young people nowadays are hardly involved in legislative, executive, and judicial positions.
In a world where political parties and governments have to focus on being constructive and delivering, they have to promise to employ more youthful people as decision makers. Aids in achieving this are setting the objectives of youth participation in political positions and cabinet positions. For example, parties may pledge such as having at least thirty percent of their candidates below the age of 35 years.
Young people can also have institution’s influence over policy decisions through advisory boards and young councils. It is anticipated that these councils should be provided with powers for direct interface with government departments and should be significant contributors to national development strategies.
5. Constructing a political accountability and leadership culture
Young people stay away from political processes primarily because politics is perceived as a dirty game. Promotion of such an engagement and a shift in this tale require a society of ethical leadership and accountability.
The young generation in Nigeria has to learn to appreciate and uphold integrity, transparency and ethic of serving as the hallmark of leadership in the country. The best way to achieve this is through enrolment in courses in mentoring, community services and leadership development programs. Some activities that may be reconstructed include learning institutions such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that might be redesigned, to have civic-leadership courses which are intended to prepare young people for political activity.
Young led groups and civil society organizations should also work together to monitor the governments activities, mobilize reform and support changes. Young people of Nigeria may redefine politics in order to become noble and powerful supported by an accountancy culture.
When making youth the political force of Nigeria, the approach has to be plural, eliminating barriers for youth, to provide them with knowledge, and create opportunities for meaningful participation. The change strategies evident at the political environment include; civic education, reduction of entrance barriers, technology integration, youth involvement and responsibility.
Which would complement efforts to ultimately translate various forms of human and capital assets into larger productivity gains with less wasted energy, bolster the energy, creativity, and determination of Nigeria’s people and therefore create a more tolerant, liberated unknown and progressive democracy. Nigeria’s future belongs to young people, therefore, there is no better strategy to assure long-term national development than to foster youth leadership.
