LEADERSHIP, PARTICIPATION AND YOUTH POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN NIGERIAHussaini Abdu, PhD

Introduction Youth identity and politics has being a global driving

force for social transformation – it is in recognition of this that 2009 to 2019 has been declared African Decade of Youth by the AU General Assembly

Nigeria has no common understanding of what concept or social category of youth connotes – conflicting cultural, legal and policy framework

Youth is not a homogenous social category – differences in class, gender, environment, culture, ethnicity, religion influence the character, access and space they enjoy in the society.

Youth development, although related it is different from youth in development

Introduction There is an increasing interest in youth

and vibrant development in youth identity. But there is no clear understanding of what to do with them, how to engage them and role they can play in development.

Almost competing youth and “adult/elders” for political and economic space is even making the situation more difficult

Youth and Public Policy Nigeria has a robust youth environment and sizeable youth

population. It has one of the youngest population in the world. Sometimes the youthful character of the population contributes to the

favourable economic or development projection of Nigeria. It could potentially be threat if not properly managed.

Nigeria also has a vibrant youth and relatively fertile youth organisational space – different youth groups – youth clubs, youth council, students’ groups, community groups, doing different things and possibly not meeting each other or building a political agenda

These groups are found in both formal and non-formal spaces – while it is easy to organise and groups in formal spaces, it can be very challenging dealing with the informal

There is a national youth policy – cross-sectoral in character as provided by the AU African Youth Charter of 2006 that came to force in 2009, although may require future fine-tuning. No proper agenda for youth politcal participation

Youth Bulge Over 40% of Nigerians are under fifteen. The projection is that Nigerian youth

population will continue to expand for the next 30 years.

this demographic configuration can be good for the economy and polity if properly managed.

However, Nigeria has one of the list investment in human capital in world

Youth crisis and Politics •Expanding youth population with limited education and employment opportunity.•Youth unemployment – 23.9% in 2011 from 21.1% in 2010 and 19.7% in 2009•Youth as asset and liability

Youth, leadership and participation in Nigeria

Are youth under represented in Nigeria? what is our conception of youths:

Take a general look at the average ages of Governors, NASS, local govts etc.

Crisis of generational consciousness and generational politics.

Youth in itself and youth for its self Challenges of youth identity and politics

of “rights”

Challenges and Opportunities The societal perception of youth development and

empowerment is tokenistic, refusing to recognise the intrinsic worth and value of young people.

The vision of youth development has been narrowly bounded by role differentiation established by elders, resulting in an ad-hoc engagement with the youth.

Limited policy framework and legal backing – participation is still being restricted – age limits for franchise.

Political parties and contracting spaces – tugs, canvassers and contestants

Price of Exclusion?

Price Exclusion? ...

Challenges and opportunities The opportunities that are available to enable young

people develop skills and to use them productively are not optimally utilised.

The positive power of youth therefore need to be harnessed for national development. This will require moving from seeing youth as just beneficiaries, to more active approach of seeing youth as assets.

The Ministry of youth Development can therefore be a focal point for this action.

Mainstreaming youth in development planning and implementation

Coordinating youth for Public engagement

The Ministry will need to set up an effective parameter and framework for youth engagement.

Coordinate youth organisations – this will require a strong data base of youth organisation and their focal areas.

Create platform for these groups network , build coalitions and meet regularly – annually, bi-annual etc.

Information Technology can be important tool in this regard – with 70 million telephone lines (not minding that some of us own up to 3), expanding internet access – IT will possibly be the magic for networking and advocacy

Work with the groups to identify key national transformative youth development agenda that can galvanise youth and the general public.

While it is difficult if not impossible to push youth groups in a single agenda issue, it can be worked in a way that such agenda becomes a cross-cutting issue for such organisation.

Coordinating youth for public engagement The ministry will need to work with development

agencies and the private sector in not only coordinating and tracking resources for such purposes, it should be able to sway donor agenda to suite the national youth needs.

The ministry should be build as a “soft programme” not a hard or physical service delivery agency

Although the Ministry with a core team can put together a list of issues, it will be important to work with these youth groups in identifying such issues – this will allow for ownership and commitment

Such issues however be associated with the socio-economic and political development of youth.

Mainstreaming youth in development

A typical perception of youth is to see them as beneficiaries of development or state generosity, or a weak and vulnerable group that requires state protection. The state is therefore at all time a benefactor or provider.

The role of youth in development and even political leadership is therefore ephemeral.

Development planning only provide for youth, it never engage them nor does it engage them.

Studies have however shown that youth engagement, inclusion and leadership is every important for sustainable development

It is only in Nigeria that we jack-up age for access to public space , this often demobilises youth and increase their exclusion

The policy agency for youth as coordinated by the ministry should therefore be directed at not only ensuring Nigeria’s commitment to its international obligations – including conventions, charters and protocols, it should ensure that youth are mainstreamed in the development agenda of the country.

This will include youth representation in different segment and sector of the society at levels – institutionally supported, not tokenism

Develop strong social capital initiative that will support youth of all classes and gender to allow for effective political participation.

In achieving these, the states and local governments are very important – they must be mobilised to be part of these process, their roles and resource commitment must be spelt out

Monitoring and Evaluating Youth Development

Monitoring youth programme and development is undermined by lack of effective and standardised measurement or instrument.

The developing a Youth Development Index – possibly with the support of Ministry of National Planning and Federal Bureau of Statistics, and interested development partners.

The can help in monitoring progress in both qualitative and quantitative manner.

Opportunity or threat

In order to benefit from young people’s capabilities, communities must ensure opportunities for youth to be engaged in development processes.

Failure to do so can lead to the exclusion and marginalization of youth while depriving communities of their energy, dynamism and innovativeness.

While youth can form the most energetic and innovative segment of the population, if unemployed and excluded, they can be a source of social disruption

Doors must be open to youth participation in employment, civic engagement, political participation, etc.

• NEEDED: The creation of an enabling environment for youth participation

Seizing the opportunity Youth as Assets in Development Youth as part of solution rather than part of the problem Vast potential for contribution to communities untapped Youth as drivers of economic development: Creation of decent work

opportunities can turn current wasted productive capacity into positive force for development

Need to be empowered to participate in decisions affecting their livelihoods Going beyond “leaders of tomorrow”: youth as critical resources Youth as participants in development:

Strengthens young people’s abilities to meet their own needs Prevents/reduces vulnerabilities to political, economic and social instabilities Builds young people’s commitment to solutions, promoting ownership and

sustainability of interventions Enables the exercise of citizenship, promoting learning, empowerment and

greater control over lives.

Three-Lens Approach to youth participation

Ladder of Youth Participation

Strategy 1: Youth Mainstreaming Consistent, committed youth-adult cooperation at every level. Similar to gender mainstreaming: The process of assessing the

implications for youth of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programs, in any area and at all levels.

Beyond the “Youth Desk” or “Youth Ministry” - Meaningfully engaging youth at all levels of policy development and

governance. Youth recognized in the full spectrum of decision-making as

stakeholders in every aspect of life, from waste management and energy use to housing, employment and transportation.

Advocating a system-wide approach to young people’s participation in development, a broad integration of youth into the structure and activities of development organizations and the convergence of youth interests with those of other members of society.

Youth exercising rights and interests will enrich the quality of life for all.

Strategy 2: Youth-Led Development “An approach to development driven and guided by young

people that draws upon their energy, creativity and skills to create positive change…it implicitly values young people as an asset for society.”

Key Characteristics: Young people actively creating a better future for themselves and

their communities. Projects and initiatives designed and implemented by young

people addressing a broad range of community needs: HIV AIDS, environment, housing, health, etc.

Youth taking leadership roles not only in the future when they become adults, but in the present.

Going beyond adult-initiated, youth-serving programs to giving youth full ownership and thus full engagement.