In order to promote and secure victory for the kind of candidates they want in elective public positions, knowledgeable young Nigerians must reach out further to connect and build bridges with their colleagues in semi-urban and rural areas who are not as privileged and exposed like themselves.
This will be useful in fixing the missing link in youth participation in Nigerian politics, according to vice president Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
In a statement by his media aide, Laolu Akande, the vice president expressed this view on Thursday, while interacting with young Nigerians under the auspices of the Global Shapers Community, Abuja chapter who were at the presidential villa on a courtesy visit.
“The vast majority of people who are called youths in Nigeria are underprivileged, they are not people like yourselves,” Prof. Osinbajo told the members of the Abuja chapter of the Global Shapers Community.
The Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum with chapters spread across different countries and a membership of over 15,000 young people.
Osinbajo said only a small fraction of the youth population (who are most vocal and articulate) have impacted the political landscape.
According to him, “our politics is still divided even among young people and the reason why they cannot find the critical mass that it takes to promote the kind of candidates that they want in public office is because even among the young people who are interested, their message is still restricted to themselves.
“To make a difference, they must cross that line and be speaking to the masses of young people in our society who don’t have the privilege of knowledge or exposure that this other group has, which really for me, is the next stage of politics in our country.”
Earlier in separate remarks, members of the group commended the vice president’s approach to governance and “fantastic leadership”, describing him as an inspiration to many young aspiring political leaders.
On her part, the curator of the Abuja Global Shapers Community, Dr Ifeoma Ike who led the group praised the vice president for prioritizing young people in all of his engagements, work, initiatives and even policies, assuring him of their support even outside of office.
Another member of the delegation, Chimdi Neliaku who gave the vote of thanks, added that the vice president has “demonstrated capacity and character. You have an army of young people who support you in and out of government.”
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