UNIABUJA Lecturers Urge Youths to Engage in Politics

Senior lecturers from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, called on Nigerian youths to transition from social media activism to active political participation in light of the upcoming 2027 general elections. This appeal was made in a report released on Friday by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation for Peace and Development, following a democracy conference focused on “Youth Political Participation and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria.” The report identified significant barriers to youth leadership, including the high cost of politics, electoral violence, political godfatherism, poverty, and weak institutions.

Professor Yusuf Zoaka emphasized that democracy requires transparency and accountability, noting the decline in democratic governance. Angela Odah, Country Director of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, stated that young people are crucial for ensuring credible elections, which involve a transparent process from voter registration to result declaration.

Professor Samson Adeniji added that democracy thrives on active citizen participation beyond just voting.