NYP, Reps, Youth Ministry collaborate on campaign for youth inclusion in governance

Joshua Omoloye, Abuja

Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) in collaboration with the House of Representatives Committee on Youths and Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to step up campaign for youth inclusion in governance and democratic process.

The campaign will include town hall meetings across the states of the country.

Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament, Dr Azeezat Yishawu disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a press briefing to launch the activities of the 5th NYP and commemoration of the International Women’s Day. The event was held at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly.

She said in the month of March, “we are collaborating with office of the Speaker through the chairman, House Committee on Youth and Ministry of Youths and Sports. We shall be holding town hall meetings across Nigeria to engage with Nigerian youth and ensure that the focus and drive of the NYP under our watch would reflect the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian youth”.

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Emphasizing the need for youth inclusion, she said “we cannot change a system we are not part of, a system we do not engage with and try to mould to reflect and project the very best of us”.

She added that NYP has in the pipeline youth centred programs, where issues are tackled through the lens of young people.

“We the youth of Nigeria should not be tagged for bad news because a sizeable number of us are building global solutions for the development of Nigeria.

“This generation of vibrant youths with more than 50% of the population will forge ahead to participate effectively in governance. We will be showing our worth in the time to come!”

The Parliament charged the army of Nigerian youth to get their permanent voters cards to enable them to participate in the leadership recruitment process during the next general election.

Dr Yishawu said “as part of our commitment, before the close of PVC registration, the NYP will be consolidating the efforts of other stakeholders and youth platforms to get more young people to register and vote in the next election. We have the mandate to get 1 million new voters registered. We understand the language of democracy through election and we will be putting our money where our mouth is. We will be ready to vote”.

She said activities of NYP centre around Youth development, youth Inclusion and gender equality. while at the core of its agenda is youth inclusion, particularly in governance and government process.

“As some of you are aware, the NYP was created as a platform for giving young people hands-on experience in leadership and advocacy within the legislature.

“It is a platform for national unity, as those who conceived NYP, in their wisdom thought to pattern it after the Nigerian Senate, with 109 members representing each of the senatorial districts that make up Nigeria.

“The parliament has often distinguished itself among youth organizations in Nigeria, adopting constructive engagement as a means of getting its ideas across to the powers that be.

“This is the legacy that has been handed down to us and this is the legacy we have pledged to sustain and hand over to our successors”, she said.