Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The House of Representatives has issued a powerful call to Nigerian youths, urging them to take centre stage in shaping the nation's democratic future by actively participating in the 2027 general elections. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Majority Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, made the declaration during the Youth Town Hall, a flagship event of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. The lawmakers stressed that the quality of Nigeria's democracy will largely depend on the choices, conduct and civic engagement of young people, who constitute the country's largest voting bloc.
In a direct appeal to young Nigerians, Speaker Abbas charged them to "Register to vote. Reject violence. Reject vote-buying. Reject misinformation and political cynicism. Base your political choices on evidence and integrity rather than emotion". The Speaker emphasised that the 10th House had deliberately placed youth development, inclusion and leadership at the heart of its legislative agenda, noting that the Youth Town Hall had evolved beyond a dialogue platform into an institutional mechanism through which young Nigerians contribute directly to national policymaking and legislative reforms.
The Majority Leader highlighted that several proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process originated from recommendations made by participants during previous editions of the Youth Town Hall. "Many of the ideas now reflected in the ongoing constitutional amendment proposals and other national policies were shaped by contributions made during previous editions of this Town Hall. Your voices have influenced outcomes, and that is precisely why this platform remains relevant," Ihonvbere stated. With political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections already gaining momentum, he described young people as Nigeria's largest voting bloc and the most influential force in determining the credibility and direction of the country's democracy.
The House highlighted several youth-focused legislative initiatives already undertaken by the 10th Assembly, including the passage of the National Youth Service Corps Reform Bill, the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill sponsored by Speaker Abbas, and a constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years. Lawmakers also pointed to landmark reforms in education financing, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity and the digital economy, describing them as strategic interventions designed to create more opportunities for innovation, employment and economic empowerment for young Nigerians.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, applauded the National Assembly for institutionalising the Youth Town Hall, describing it as a landmark initiative that has opened the legislature to meaningful youth engagement. He observed that previous administrations had inadvertently created a disconnect between young people and public institutions but said the current administration was deliberately reversing the trend by promoting inclusive governance and sustained dialogue. "It is very important that young Nigerians are given the space to speak, ask questions, share ideas and take part in decisions that affect their future," the minister said.
Olawande listed the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, youth enterprise support programmes and the proposed Youth Green Fund among key interventions aimed at equipping Nigerian youths for opportunities in the rapidly expanding digital and green economies. Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, challenged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology and artificial intelligence as catalysts for national development and global competitiveness. Halilu revealed that NASENI's Innovate Nigeria programme is providing grants of up to ₦250 million to support innovators, inventors and technology-driven enterprises, urging young people to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills while developing innovative solutions capable of addressing Nigeria's challenges.
The call for youth participation comes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, with the House insisting that young Nigerians must move beyond being passive observers to becoming active architects of the country's democratic future. The lawmakers reiterated their commitment to ensuring that youths become active partners in governance rather than passive recipients of government policies, stressing that the credibility of the electoral process and the future of Nigeria's democracy rest significantly on the shoulders of its youngest citizens. As one lawmaker put it, "The quality of our elections and the future of our democracy will, to a large extent, be determined by the choices, conduct and active involvement of young Nigerians".
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