Kofi Anan the Former Secretary General of the United Nations says “No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death.
In most developing countries like Nigeria, government at all levels have not embraced the youth as a central factor in its development efforts. Successive governments since return to democratic government in 1999 apart from mere ceremonial recognition of the youth as “Leaders of tomorrow”, have not articulated concrete policies for youth mobilization and engagement as a necessary tool for good
governance and development in new normal world.
In Nigeria after two decades of democratic experience, the system of government has not yielded much desired good governance. This is because democracy in Nigeria is practised in such a way that responsible, competent and the productive youth
population are not engaged in democratic governance in the country. In Nigeria and other African countries, there is lack of trust of youth in governing institutions and political leadership, despite the fact that modern youth are well endowed with needed modern technological knowhow and skills to make a difference.
The history of Nigeria shows how much the youth have featured prominently in political leadership and good governance. But in recent time, the story is not exactly the same.
For instance;
Shehu Shagari became a federal legislator at the age of 30 and a minister at the age of 35,
M.T Mbu became a minister at the age of 25 and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at the age of 26,
Chief Richard Akinjide became Minister of Education at the age of 32,
Maitama Sule became oil minister at the age of 29,
Audu Ogbe was a Minister at the age of 35,
Unfortunately,he is still a minister today, it is noteworthy that those aforementioned Nigerians performed excellently well in their youthful age as political leaders and their records are there till date.
In contrast, however, today’s reality is a polity where Nigerian youths are used as election consultants, vote buying agents, social media battalions, political party town criers and political thugs.
Many have attributed this trend to conspiracy of the elite class who cannot stand the idea of vacating the scene for the young generation, thereby creating a system that makes it impossible for the young people to emerge and succeed in politics and governance.
In conclusion, As an Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, ADC Candidate for the Ondo State House of Assembly (Parliament) in the 2023 General Election representing the good people of Owo Constituency II, and a Lead Consultant for the International Human Right Commission (IHRC) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, I want to remind policy makers and world leaders that No sustainable development and good governance can be achieved without engaging the youth population most especially in the new normal world where engagement and other activities of governance are digitalised, this is because the new world order advocated for innovativeness, pro activeness and adaptation to global change.
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