LEAP Africa Advocates for Youth Inclusion in Governance

During the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) @ 5 milestone event in Abuja, key development stakeholders, civil society leaders, and international partners called for the dismantling of age-based stereotypes and the active inclusion of young citizens in national decision-making and electoral processes. Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director of LEAP Africa, urged governments to frequently review national youth policies to create accessible platforms and skills training.

She noted that the initiative has reached over 22,000 young citizens and supported more than 1,000 youth-led organizations. Dr Onyeche Elizabeth Agbiti-Douglas, Director of NYFF at LEAP Africa, challenged the perception of youth as inexperienced, highlighting that those under 30 represent 60 to 70 percent of Nigeria's population.

Cheikh Ousmane Toure, UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, emphasized that Nigeria's future depends on its youth demographic and called for their active participation in upcoming electoral cycles.