The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called on political leaders and governments to open up more political space to allow for greater participation by the nigerian youth.
He said this while delivering a keynote address at a webinar for the commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day, organised by the Office of the Speaker and the Nigerian Youth Parliament.
A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Lanre Lasisi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said the speaker also stressed the need for Nigerian youths to show greater interest in governance and government.
Gbajabiamila said relegating the Nigerian youth to the background by the governments was harmful to national development as the youths are the most critical segment of any society.
According to the speaker, one of the most effective means of participating in government by the youths is to constantly engage their representatives in the legislature at all levels.
“In his lifetime, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, asked of citizens and policymakers thus:
“We must recognize the contributions young people make to our society. We must build upon the imagination, energy, vibrancy and talents of these our precious national assets.
“This is an obvious imperative, more so in a country like ours with a massive and ever-growing youth bulge,” he said.
The Speaker added that the country would not reach its full potential until the government at all levels learn to engage with the changing values, needs, and expectations of youths.
“All our dreams of prosperity hinge on our ability to provide the physical infrastructure, the legal framework, the cultural and social support required to unleash the innovative potential of our young people.
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“To achieve this sort of profound transformation of our governance, all of us in government and politics must commit to opening the political space to allow for greater participation by our nation’s youth.
“Political leaders must act now and consistently to dismantle those practices and systems that serve only to exclude young people from political participation, or that limit them to operating on the fringes as foot soldiers in the battle for spoils,” he said.
