The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has urged Nigerian youths to prepare themselves for political participation grounded in values, ideology, and performance, rather than just numbers.
Speaking during the Youth Forum segment of Channels Television’s special programme marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, Itodo emphasized the need for youth leadership to reflect substance and integrity.
The forum, themed “Pressing Issues Affecting Nigeria’s Youth”, featured discussions with key stakeholders and government officials on challenges facing young people across education, healthcare, business, and the creative industry.
Criticizing Nigeria’s prevailing political culture, Itodo said it lacks the value-based principles required to bring about real change.
“The dominant character of politics in Nigeria is not driven by values or performance. Young people aspiring to lead cannot mimic the behaviour of traditional politicians. Nigerians want a new kind of leadership – one built on character and vision,” he said.
Reflecting on youth participation in governance since President Tinubu assumed office, Itodo argued that quality, not quantity, is what truly matters. He said the focus should shift from simply increasing the number of young leaders to ensuring they perform effectively in office.
As a strong advocate of the Not Too Young To Run bill, passed in 2018 under President Muhammadu Buhari, Itodo acknowledged that while youth inclusion has improved, major gaps still exist in the political landscape.
“We’re still far from where we need to be. One thing I’ve learned in the last two years is that leadership requires preparation. Young people must take leadership development seriously,” he stressed.
He also pointed out that Nigeria’s political environment does not currently support merit-based or transformative leadership, which hampers the emergence and effectiveness of youth in governance.
Despite these challenges, Itodo expressed optimism about the potential of Nigeria’s young generation. He concluded by calling for intentional strategies to empower young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities necessary to thrive in leadership roles.
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