The House of Representatives has urged Nigerian youths to take a leading role in shaping the country’s democratic future by actively participating in the 2027 general elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House of Representatives organised 2026 Open Week to commemorate their three years of effective representation.
Among the activities to mark the open week is a Youth Town Hall where lawmakers, government officials, development partners, youth leaders and civil society groups engaged on strengthening youth participation in governance.
Speaking on Thursday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said the 10th House had made youth development and inclusion a central pillar of its legislative agenda.
Tajudeen, represented by the Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said that the future of Nigeria’s democracy rested largely on the choices and engagement of young people.
He said the Youth Town Hall had evolved into a permanent platform through which young Nigerians directly influence legislation and public policy.
“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”.
Tajudeen highlighted several youth-focused legislative initiatives of the House, including the recently passed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Bill.
He explained that the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill and the constitutional amendment bill were seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years.
He also cited reforms in education funding, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity and digital economy legislation as efforts aimed at creating greater opportunities for young Nigerians.
The Speaker said there was no better constituency to engage than young Nigerians, describing them as the country’s largest voting bloc and the strongest drivers of democratic participation.
“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”.
In his address, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, commended the National Assembly for opening its doors to young people, describing the initiative as unprecedented in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Olawande said successive governments had created a disconnect between young people and public institutions, but noted that the current administration was working to bridge that gap through sustained engagement.
“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”.
According to him, the ministry has established platforms that allow youths to interact directly with the government while rolling out programmes focused on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, digital training and access to affordable financing.
Olawande also highlighted the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, youth enterprise support programmes and the proposed Youth Green Fund as part of efforts to prepare young Nigerians for opportunities in the digital and green economies.
Also speaking, Mr Khalil Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), urged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology and artificial intelligence as tools for national development.
Halilu said innovation rather than natural resources would determine Nigeria’s future competitiveness, revealing that NASENI’s Innovate Nigeria programme is providing direct grants of up to ₦250 million to support innovators and technology-driven enterprises.
He encouraged youths to continuously upgrade their skills and focus on solving societal problems through technology and entrepreneurship.
