Youth empowerment and political engagement initiatives expand in Nigeria

Efforts to engage and empower Nigerian youth are gaining momentum through both state-led initiatives and grassroots organizations. In Anambra State, Special Adviser Dr. Nelson Omenugha is promoting a Youth Reformation Agenda aimed at reducing political violence, criminality, and drug abuse. Omenugha has urged young people to resist recruitment by politicians for violent activities, advocating instead for constructive democratic engagement and peaceful campaigning.

To support this, Omenugha is collaborating with the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to address the environments that facilitate crimes such as kidnapping and prostitution. The agenda also includes practical skill development, such as training youth in farm machine fabrication.

On a national scale, the organization Youths on Ground (YOG) has announced plans to mobilize 10 million youths for the 2027 general elections. National Coordinator Dr. Obioma Nwuba stated that the group aims to directly empower 600,000 young Nigerians through capacity-building programs, such as the Alutech Training, Mentorship and Empowerment Programme. These initiatives focus on grassroots skills like smart farming to provide economic stability and indirect influence across communities.