From the 26th – 30th October 2024 the Civic Champions, led by their project Manager, Ruth Ogwuche, facilitated a focus group discussion for youth in Nkanu West, Enugu South, and Enugu North of Enugu State.
The focus group discussion is part of the transformative initiative of the ongoing Elevating Youth Voices, Building Trust and Civic Cohesion project also known as the Civic Leadership Programme by the Network of Youth For Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) with support from Nigeria Youth Future Fund and Leap Africa.
Over the past seven months, the Civic Leadership Programme has equipped five (5) civic champions, Gabriel Edibo, Paschal Ugwu, Charity Ezeja, Caroline Musa and Victoria Imaji, in Enugu state with the knowledge and skills on civic participation, youth leadership, advocacy, community mobilisation, social impact, and trust building with lawmakers. These civic champions also implemented a train-the-trainer model to prepare volunteers in Enugu State, enhancing their capacity for meaningful youth participation in local democracy. The insights gained from this training necessitated a Focus Group discussion with young people in Enugu State to better understand the challenges youth face in leadership and civic participation.
The session gathered forty participants, including youth leaders, individuals with disabilities, and young Nigerians, to discuss their perspectives on governance, reasons for disengagement, and ideas to foster civic cohesion in their communities.
Here are a few findings from the discussion with these young Nigeria:
- Distrust in Governance: Participants across all three locations reported pervasive distrust in governance due to perceived corruption, vote-rigging, and unfulfilled promises.
- Poor Civic Engagement Knowledge: Enugu North and Nkanu West participants displayed limited knowledge of civic engagement, while Enugu South showed a similar need for better civic education.
- Face-to-Face Meetings: All groups expressed a strong preference for direct meetings with lawmakers, believing it would foster accountability and provide an authentic platform for addressing concerns. They all preferred a town hall meeting.
- Monetary Influence on Civic Participation: In Nkanu West, several participants expressed how they have observed how certain citizens require financial incentives to participate in civic activities, indicating a perception of civic duty as transactional.
- Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): PWDs in Enugu South and Enugu North requested that lawmakers consider their unique needs in decision-making processes
Recommendations shared by the Project Manager and the Civic Champions:
- Civic Education Programs: Community-based programs should be introduced to improve citizens’ understanding of their lawmakers’ roles and identities. These programs such as the civic leadership program will create a platform to educate, equip and maximise a behavioural change approach to change the perception of community members towards the importance of civic engagement.
- Direct Engagement with Lawmakers: Regular town halls and community visits should be scheduled to allow lawmakers to interact directly with constituents. These meetings would enhance transparency and help rebuild trust among youth and other community members. Face-to-face engagements would allow lawmakers to demonstrate accountability and hear directly from their constituents, fostering a stronger sense of civic duty.
- Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): Lawmakers should adopt inclusive practices by consulting with PWD representatives or forming advisory groups to ensure policies address their concerns. Infrastructure improvements for accessibility in public spaces and services would support greater inclusion for PWDs in community activities.
- Transparency and Accountability: Lawmakers are encouraged to publish detailed reports on budget allocations, project implementations, and progress on campaign promises. This practice would promote trust and transparency. Establishing community feedback channels and third-party audits would further demonstrate lawmakers’ commitment to accountability.
- Accessible Communication System for Constituents: A reliable communication system, such as a hotline, online platform, or social media presence, should be established to allow constituents to reach lawmakers easily and receive timely responses.
This focus group discussion highlights the importance of our work in promoting meaningful youth participation in civic processes. To address civic apathy in Nigeria, it is expedient that we develop and implement programs at the grassroots that encourage a behavioural change towards civic engagement, dispel misconceptions and address the concerns of youth leaders in communities.
To build trust between young people and their lawmakers, lawmakers must create safe spaces for youth-centred dialogues and actively involve youth in the localisation of policies that support their growth and well-being.
Access more details about the project here.
