By 2030, the median age of Nigeria’s population is forecast to reach 18.3 years, and it is estimated that ~50% of the population will be aged under 18.5 years. What this simply means is that by the end of this decade, Gen Zs and to a lesser extent Millennials will hold immense power to shape the future of Nigerian society. But with this power comes great responsibility – the burden of critical thinking, and organising a critical mass of youth who are both solutions-driven and empowered with the network and skills to successfully implement transformative change in their local communities.
In a country facing crippling challenges like insecurity, corruption, and political instability, the role of youth in building a more peaceful and democratic society has never been more pronounced.
Why Youth Involvement Matters
Young Nigerians might wonder, “Why should I get involved? What difference can I really make?” The truth is that your voice and actions matter more than you may realise. Here’s why:
Fresh perspectives: Youth bring new ideas and innovative approaches to longstanding problems. The unique experiences and dynamic viewpoints of Gen Zs and millennials can lead to creative solutions that older generations are unable to generate.
Energy and idealism: The passion and optimism of youth are a powerful force for positive change, once coupled with the determination to create a better future can inspire others and overcome barriers to progress. It is this very energy and idealism that has resulted in some incremental change in Nigerian society, however, it requires scale and aggregation.
Tech-savvy nature: As digital natives, Gen Zs and millennials have grown up in a world of immense technological transformation that has made them connected to global sources of knowledge and new skills. Youth change-makers can leverage this potential to harness technology and social media for social good, amplifying messages of peace and democracy.
Long-term stake: The decisions made today will shape the future that Nigerian youth inherit. By getting involved now, young Nigerians can help create a future of peace and sustainable democratic development.
Demographic advantage: With such a large youth population, our collective voice can and must become a formidable force in Nigerian politics and society. The 2023 elections provided a window into how youth-aligned voices and choices can steer Nigeria in a progressive direction.
Pathways to Peace and Democracy
So how can young Nigerians contribute to building a more peaceful and democratic society? In my experience, these are the most potent and actionable options:
Educate Yourself and Others: To have any hope of influencing a more peaceful and democratic society, youth must have critical thinking ability to help them understand the root causes of the crippling malaise hobbling Nigerian progress. It is also necessary to gain deeper than surface-level understanding of Nigeria’s history, political system, and current events. To achieve scale, there can be knowledge-sharing and peer-mentoring communities that help build up a youth knowledge base. Programs such as NGYouthSDGs ‘Youth Activators Lab’ and ‘Civic Leadership Programme (CLiP)’ are great examples of how to nurture a civic awareness culture.
Engage in the Political Process: A more peaceful and democratic society results from sustained and active citizen participation. It is crucial for a critical mass of Gen Zs and millenials to register to vote and exercise this right in all elections, join or create a vibrant youth wing of a political party, attend local government meetings and speak up on issues affecting young people etc. Inevitably, a preponderance of these efforts will result in youth-aligned policy and governance outcomes. Remember, it is only via active participation that youth voices will reverberate in the corridors of power.
Promote Peace Through Dialogue and Understanding: Nigeria’s diversity is both an immense positive attribute and yet a source of conflict when not properly harnessed by inclusive initiatives.Youth must play a huge role in challenging stereotypes, strengthening a national identity, and ensuring that inter-ethnic biases are not inherited by the new generation. Instead of ethnic suspicion, young Nigerians must champion understanding and empathy, and foster a more cohesive society.
Volunteer and Serve Your Community: Sustained societal change starts at the grassroots level. Youth can make a tangible difference by participating in local clean-up efforts or environmental initiatives, tutoring younger students or teaching skills to out-of-school youth, and organising peaceful demonstrations for causes you believe in. These actions not only improve your local community but also develop your leadership skills.
Celebrate the achievements of young Nigerians making a difference: It is important to shine the light on young changemakers as this reinforces a positive feedback loop for other youth to follow in their strides. The NGYouthSDGs ‘Youth Day Spotlight award’ is a similar initiative that recognises young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 29 leading actions for sustainable development at the local and national levels, and mainstreams the actions and initiatives of young people to advocate for their meaningful and equitable engagement in policies and programs in Nigeria.
Support youth initiatives: The challenges facing young Nigerians can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it is useful to have support networks that both aggregate and sustain local youth initiatives. Other offshoots of this approach include creating peer support networks for mental health and well-being, and even mentoring younger teens and children in public secondary and primary schools. Overall, an aggregated youth movement is stronger than individuals working alone.
Achieving The Nigeria of Our Dreams
The journey to a more peaceful and democratic Nigeria is not without obstacles. Youth will encounter push back from older generations or established power structures, limited resources or opportunities, the temptation of quick fixes through violence or corruption, and feelings of apathy or helplessness in the face of systemic issues.
But remember, your nation needs your persistence, creativity, and solidarity. And there is a significant upside from overcoming these barriers.
Think of a future generation of Nigerian youth living and thriving in a 1st-world society, free and able to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, sports, arts and crafts, and creative activities in a secure and stable democratic society.
Imagine a Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and reflect the true will of the people, the rights of every citizen are protected and respected, ethnic and religious differences are celebrated rather than exploited, and economic opportunities are available to all, regardless of background, and corruption is the exception, not the norm.
This vision is not a distant dream – it’s a future that we as young Nigerians have the power and mandate to create. By taking action today, we can lay the foundation for a more peaceful and democratic society that will benefit not only your generation but those that follow.
Remember the words of the great Nelson Mandela: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.”
…This article was written by Paul Oshunkeye, Campaign Communications Specialist…
