By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has urged youths to rise above ordinary complaints against leaders and take deliberate steps towards the country’s economic and political reformation.
The speaker, who gave the advice yesterday during the launch of Take Action Campaign in Abuja, emphasised the need for young Nigerians to see themselves as central to the country’s present and future transformation.
Speaking under the theme, ‘Awakening a Generation: Youthful Leadership for a New Nigeria,’ Abbas informed that the event was meant to mobilise young people into leadership roles across all strata of governance in Nigeria.
The speaker, who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth in Parliament, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, lamented that despite youths constituting over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population, their influence in governance remains minimally felt.
He advised young Nigerians to always engage in constructive criticism, as well as in policy-making and legislative reforms.
Abbas decried certain trends in the country where many young Nigerians continuously emigrate to other countries in search of greener pasteur.
While urging young persons to always see Nigeria as their primary mission field, the speaker cautioned that “no one can ever take your Nigerian identity from you.”
He appealed to Nigerians not to just sit behind devices criticising government and leaders, but to get involved and monitor policies and be ready to probe with questions.
He explained that initiatives like the Not Too Young to Run Act had already paved the way for increased youth participation in governance among other reforms.
In his presentation, the Director-General of YIPF, Tony Nwulu revealed that the campaign’s strategy include building structures across all states and the FCT, engaging youths of voting age, as well as facilitating the election of young legislators in the 2027 elections.
In his address, the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Ododo, who was represented by Moses Okezie-Okafor, commended the campaign initiative which he said is a continuation of the Not Too Young to Run movement in Nigeria.
He highlighted Kogi State government’s success in areas such as gender inclusion, noting that several top government positions are currently being held by women in his state.
On his part, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, represented by Chika Abazu, explained that youths in his state are already occupying over 40 percent of positions in the cabinet, describing the campaign as very timely and necessary for national renewal and emancipation.
