Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called on Nigerian youths to rise beyond rhetoric and take deliberate action to shape the country’s political future.
Abbas said this during the launch of the Take Action Campaign with the theme: “Awakening a Generation: Youthful Leadership for a New Nigeria”in Abuja on Tuesday.
He urged young people to view themselves not merely as the leaders of tomorrow, but as the key drivers of Nigeria’s present transformation.
“The youth are not just the future, they are the present. They must begin to reflect their numbers in the governance of this nation,”the Speaker, who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth in Parliament, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, said.
Abbas lamented that despite youth comprising over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population, their influence in decision-making and governance remains minimal. He stressed the need for young people to be more deliberate about entering public service, engaging with laws, and actively shaping policies that affect their lives.
Highlighting the significance of legislative reforms such as the Not Too Young to Run Act, the Speaker noted that the National Assembly had already begun opening the space for youth participation. He cited the example of a lawmaker from Kebbi State, who was elected into the House at just 26 years old, as a clear sign of what is possible when the system becomes more inclusive.
The Director General of the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF),Tony Nwulu, underscored the urgency of youth participation in governance.
He said the unveiling of the Take Action Campaign, a youth-driven movement, had a singular mission to transform Nigeria’s political landscape by empowering young Nigerians to run for office and take charge of their future.
He outlined the four-pronged approach of the campaign which are mobilizing, mentoring, and supporting young aspirants at all levels of governance; building structures in all 36 states and the FCT to prepare youth for political participation; launching voter engagement strategies to activate and educate youth voting blocs; and facilitating the election of young legislators into state and national assemblies by 2027.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, praised the Take Action Campaign, which be described as the logical progression from the Not Too Young to Run movement.
Represented by the State’s Director General of Research and Development, Moses Okezie-Okafor, he described himself as a product of that political opportunity, having served in the state’s executive council across two administrations.
He cited Kogi’s unique gender inclusion model, where all local government deputy chairpersons are women. In some cases, both chairperson and deputy are women.
“The Secretary to the State Government and the Accountant General are also women,” he noted. “The goal is to create a deliberate, balanced political structure that allows women and young people to thrive.”
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, aligned the state with the objectives of the Take Action Campaign, saying it reflects the reality already being shaped in Imo.
Represented by Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Chika Abazu, he said, “This campaign couldn’t have come at a better time. In Imo, youth are not only appointed,they are empowered. Over 40 percent of the state cabinet is youth. I myself benefited from the Not Too Young to Run movement and now serve as commissioner.”
He urged young Nigerians not to merely aspire but to perform and to see their roles as part of a larger developmental value chain.
“We have a whole brand-new country to build. This campaign only becomes meaningful when those who enter leadership through it leave the door open behind them,” he said.
The Take Action Campaign, spearheaded by the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF), is a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians to take up leadership roles in politics and public service.
