The Confederation of West African Youths has called for greater youth participation, accountable leadership and policies that create opportunities for young Nigerians.
The Regional President of the organisation, Ambassador Israel Akinola, made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the National Secretariat of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Akinola said the organisation, which he described as a platform for African youths committed to change, had membership across West African countries and was focused on promoting effective leadership and governance.
He said Nigeria required a new approach to governance, with greater emphasis on citizens’ welfare, accountability and opportunities for young people.
According to him, young Nigerians face challenges ranging from economic hardship and unemployment to limited opportunities for developing and commercialising their skills and ideas.
Akinola, who said he had previously been involved with the SDP, said the organisation was seeking an intellectual engagement with the party on its ideas for addressing the country’s challenges.
He also called for greater public-private collaboration, saying government policies should have tangible effects on citizens, particularly young people and those at the grassroots.
Responding, the SDP Vice National Chairman, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, who represented the National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, said the party was committed to pursuing a different approach to governance.
Uba said the SDP’s programme was anchored on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly provisions relating to the welfare and security of citizens.
He said the growing interest of young Nigerians in the party indicated increasing engagement with its message and policy proposals, adding that the party’s recently presented manifesto contained programmes aimed at addressing the country’s development challenges.
Uba said Nigeria had remained underdeveloped despite its human and material resources, arguing that leadership and governance were central to addressing the situation.
He also said the party was seeking a change in Nigeria’s political culture through what he described as a different approach to governance and national development.
In his response, the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, thanked the delegation for the visit and highlighted the historical role of West African youth movements in the struggle for independence and self-government.
Adebayo urged the youths to take their engagement to communities across the country, stressing that political participation ultimately depends on interaction with citizens at the grassroots and polling-unit level.
He said the youths should build a common sense of purpose around national development and sustain their engagement beyond political meetings.
Adebayo also called for stronger community-level conversations on governance, saying young people should engage citizens honestly on issues affecting their communities and the future of Nigeria.
The visit provided an opportunity for the youth organisation and SDP leadership to exchange views on governance, youth participation, economic opportunities and Nigeria’s development challenges.
The SDP has identified youth inclusion, leadership development, social justice, accountability and sustainable development among the principles contained in its stated mission and policy framework.
