Yiaga Africa Grooms Varsity Students For Democratic Leadership

Yiaga Africa has trained student leaders from Not Too Young To Run hubs across selected universities in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones to strengthen youth leadership and democratic participation.

The training, themed Redefining Youth Leadership, was held in Abuja on Thursday with support from the Open Society Foundations.

It brought together 18 students, three each from Modibo Adama University, Yola; Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers; Benue State University, Makurdi; the University of Lagos; Imo State University; and the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, Yiaga’s programme officer, Olaniyan Sanusi, said the organisation convened leaders of hubs established across six tertiary institutions over the last two years.

Sanusi explained that Yiaga deliberately invested in creating these hubs to provide young people with platforms to promote democratic rights, leadership, and active political participation.

He added that the retreat was designed to equip student leaders with the key leadership and management skills needed to run the hubs effectively.

Also speaking, Yiaga Africa’s Africa programme coordinator, Ibrahim Faruk, said the hubs emerged as an offshoot of the Not Too Young To Run movement, which the organisation championed between 2016 and 2018.

Faruk recalled that the movement successfully reduced the constitutional age requirements for contesting elections, thereby opening up the political space for more young Nigerians in the 2019 general elections.

He noted that the hubs function as campus-based clubs focused on political engagement, leadership development, and community mobilisation.

Faruk further stated that the movement aims to increase the representation of youth, women, and persons with disabilities in elective offices, build continental solidarity, and grow a grassroots network committed to inclusive politics.

One of the participants, Emmanuel Chukwu, a law student from Imo State University, said the programme reinforced his belief that young people are never too young to lead or participate actively in politics.

Another participant, Aisha Bari’a Baffa from the Federal University Dutse, said she joined the training to build her leadership capacity and gain clarity on the skills and purpose required for effective leadership.

She said the opportunity to learn and network with peers was vital to shaping responsible youth leadership in Nigeria.