Stakeholders Urge Youth Engagement in Governance

On Tuesday, stakeholders convened at a youth-focused roundtable dialogue in Lagos organized by Involve Africa, discussing the theme ‘Youth in a Complex and Evolving Governance Landscape.’ Abimbola Ojenike, Managing Director at Slingstone LP, emphasized the importance of allowing young people to organize themselves and develop leadership skills early, citing his experiences at the University of Ibadan regarding students’ union autonomy. He warned that restrictions on such organizations could hinder the political socialization necessary for future leaders.

Ekemini Akpakpan, Executive Secretary of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), stressed the need for young people to adopt an ownership mindset and engage constructively with decision-makers. Ojenike further cautioned against “demographic entitlement,” urging youth to start solving grassroots problems and contribute to their communities before addressing national issues.

He stated that effective criticism comes from experience and involvement. Akpakpan also called for women to engage with institutions to ensure their perspectives are included in policy-making.