Nigeria: Youth leaders and politicians urge engagement in governance

Nigerian creative professionals, social media influencers, and political stakeholders are calling for increased youth engagement in governance and public policy to address the country's socio-economic challenges.

At the Elevating Youth Voices Virtual Summit hosted by the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET), figures from the music and film industries, alongside activists, discussed using digital platforms to influence political outcomes. Professor Kingsley Moghalu, head of IGET, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that with unemployment at 33% and a projected population of 400 million by 2050, the youth must shape the nation's future.

In a separate grassroots mobilization in Kwara State, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Adeyemi Timothy Oluwaseun urged young people to prioritize technology and skill acquisition to bridge the unemployment gap. The event, which also included medical outreach, focused on mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s reelection bid and other APC candidates for the 2027 elections.