Yiaga Africa Boosts Youth Political Participation in Abuja

On Thursday, Yiaga Africa organized a leadership retreat in Abuja for 18 student leaders from six universities across Nigeria, as part of its "Not Too Young To Run" initiative. The event, which lasted two days, aimed to strengthen leadership capacities and promote youth political participation ahead of the next general elections.

Sanusi Olaniyan, Yiaga Africa's program officer, highlighted the retreat's focus on equipping young leaders with essential skills to manage political activities effectively. Ibrahim Faruk, the program coordinator, traced the origins of the initiative to the "Not Too Young To Run" movement between 2016 and 2018, which aimed to reduce the age requirement for political office.

The broader goal includes increasing the number of young people, women, and persons with disabilities in political positions. Participants like Emmanuel Anyanwu and Aishia Bari Baffa expressed their commitment to enhancing their leadership skills and taking action within their communities.