Youth can be a creative force, a
dynamic source of innovations, however Youth also face poverty, barriers to
education, and limited employment prospects and opportunities. In the area of
political participation, eligibility for national parliament starts at 25 years
old or older. 1.65% of parliamentarians around the world are in their 20s and
11.87% are in their 30s. The average age of parliamentarians globally is 53 (50
years old for women parliamentarians). Young people between the ages of 15 and
25 constitute a fifth of the world’s population. People under the age of 35 are
rarely found in political leadership positions. The main challenges for youth
were limited opportunities for effective participation in decision-making
processes, with limited opportunities and exposure to meaningfully participate
in inclusive decision-making processes, Young men and women feel excluded and
marginalized in their societies and communities.
The need for participatory
structures and greater trust between youth and institutions and for greater
capacity development were also stressed. Efforts should also be made to focus
on the most vulnerable of young people, including via specific actions
targeting young women, The Support to young people’s participation in inclusive
political processes and democratic practices, Most be through three measures,
Covering the wider enabling environment, individual capacity building and a
specific focus on young people. The promotion of an enabling environment (legal
frameworks, policies and plans) For young people’s participation in a broad
range of processes and areas (electoral and parliamentary processes, Public
administration and local governance, including in Peace building environments)
at local, sub-national and national levels, The promotion of young people’s
skills and capacities to participate actively in democratic practices,
Including in local, national, and global processes (leadership trainings,
etc.). There are numerous advantages attached to youth inclusion in politics,
when you have youths that are of high character in politics about which they
are passionate. There will definitely be rapid growth and development in all
sectors of the economy.
Our youths are better performers
in the area of sensitization and mobilization of the electorate during
electioneering campaigns; the vibrancy of youths makes them indispensable in
politics. As such their inclusion in politics cannot be overemphasized, The
energy of the youths if well channeled into politics will go a long way to
affirm their relevance in the polity of the country, For instance, the likes of
Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello were all youths when they led the struggle for
the independence of Nigeria, Their active participation in politics at that
time in the country changed a lot of things in the political landscape of
Nigeria, Their efforts gave birth to the independence of Nigeria in 1960.
I would like to make reference to
a youth that made history based on his vibrancy and passion for a peaceful
America, He is none other than Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, He
made a difference in America several years ago. Even when very few people
shared in his vision. It’s on record that he led an historic March in
Washington on August 1963, It was there that King made his famous "I Have
a Dream" speech; emphasizing his belief that someday all men could be
brothers. Another advantage of youth inclusion in politics is the access to
information; Politics thrives on information not propaganda. With the advantage
of the Internet and the social media. Youths have virtually an unrestricted
access to Information and this paves way for the sophistication and robustness
of their knowledge base, The youth in any population is an asset for national
growth and development, There is no gainsaying in the fact that the youths are
in the productive stage of their lives, They need proper orientation from the
adults in order to approach politics with a positive mentality, Youth Agencies
and Civil Rights Groups have to come in this regard to ensure that the youth
make impact in politics and governance, Generally, youths have innovative ideas
and are passionate for change in any capacity they find themselves, The much
desired change in the political landscape can only happen if the efforts of the
youths are encouraged by the larger society, The youth need to be given a
chance to make use of their intellect. The young professionals from various
educational backgrounds make meaningful impacts in the economy.
By way of contesting for elections
and being appointed into political offices. A passion to serve and move Nigeria
towards her destiny must be at the Centre of their hearts. While there maybe
numerous advantages of youth inclusion in politics, there are also few
disadvantages to Youth inclusion in politics, Many youths have been sidelined
though they have what it takes to be change agents in politics. The youth face
poverty, barriers to education, multiple forms of discrimination and limited
employment prospects and opportunities, The human capacity of any nation really
lies in her youths, This challenges aforementioned and that is why many of the
Youths are now being used as political thugs in many countries, The
educationally disadvantaged youths in the society will surely be a tool for
political violence. If allowed to participate in it, we see this happening
almost every day in the context of Nigerian politics. The uneducated youths
become veritable tools in the hands of political godfathers who only want to
serve their interest.
Youth inclusion in politics
becomes a curse when there is a higher population of youths without education
in the political system, Education is a tool for enlightenment and it must be
given utmost priority by our leaders. Likewise, the war against poverty
must be in place in order to make youth inclusion a blessing to our generation,
In Nigeria today, youths are already aspiring to make a difference because they
are much more enlightened, This is the right time for the youths to arise and
challenge the status quo of being left to dance, to the tune of
unscrupulous elders who try to lure the youths into political vices like
violence, rigging, ballot snatching, etc without highly educated, highly
literate, highly skilled, intellectually brilliant and self-confident
youth. A nation is toying with it’s future, and undermining its
existential capacity, Attaining purposeful political leadership by the youths
beyond their inclusion must be seen as the beacon of Hope for the youth, And
their active participation in politics.
Written by Babangida Ruma
Commonwealth Youth Council Peace
Ambassador and an Active Youth Leader in Nigeria who contributed to Informed
Youth Policy dialogues in African Region. Visit www.babangidaruma.com
Post a Comment