ActionAid moves to empower Nigerian youths ahead of 2027

…as youth democracy summit participants demand greater accountability

ActionAid Nigeria has launched an initiative to empower young Nigerians to take a more active role in democratic participation and demand greater accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organization disclosed this on Wednesday at a one-day Youth Democracy and Accountability Summit in Abuja, which brought together young leaders and other stakeholders to discuss democratic participation, accountability, and citizens’ needs.

The summit, themed “Empowering Young People for Democratic Participation and Accountability Ahead of the 2027 General Election,” is part of ActionAid Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen youth participation, leadership, and engagement in governance.

Speaking at the event, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, represented by the organization’s Head of Programmes and Policy, Celestine Odo, said the summit was designed to help young people understand democracy beyond elections and demand tangible benefits from governance.

Mamedu said democracy was a process, while democratic dividends represented the benefits citizens should derive from it.

He added that the summit would also examine resource allocation and public finance, noting that the allocation and expenditure of public resources were central to how citizens experienced the benefits of democracy.

According to him, participants would identify challenges affecting Nigeria’s democratic development and develop an agenda that could be presented to political actors ahead of the 2027 elections.

He urged young Nigerians to use the agenda to engage political candidates and mobilize their communities rather than limiting political participation to receiving campaign gifts.

ALSO READ: FG, ActionAid launch revised gender policy to boost inclusive agrifood transformation

Mamedu said young people should be able to present clear demands to politicians seeking their votes, particularly on issues affecting their communities.

Also speaking, ActionAid Nigeria’s Governance Specialist, Vivian Bassey, said the summit had four major objectives: enabling young people to share their experiences and concerns, improving their understanding of civic rights and democratic participation, identifying and prioritizing issues for a youth agenda, and developing pathways for collective action.

She said the initiative would produce both a youth agenda and a Youth Democracy and Accountability Charter ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Participants at the summit called for constitutional reforms, greater youth participation in governance, and increased accountability from elected representatives.

One of the participants, Christian Ojotu, raised concerns about electoral malpractice and judicial independence, saying the issues continued to affect confidence in the democratic process.

Another participant, Uwamfon Nsa, commended ActionAid Nigeria for organizing the summit, describing it as an opportunity for young Nigerians to improve their civic knowledge ahead of the 2027 elections.

Nsa called for greater civic education, particularly in rural communities, where poverty and hunger could make vulnerable citizens susceptible to inducements during elections.

She urged young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, participate in elections, and make informed decisions.