FG to enact law mandating 30% youth inclusion in govt — Minister

To address youth unrest and promote inclusivity in governance, Nigeria is on the verge of enacting a law that will guarantee a 30% inclusion of youth in government, the Minister for Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim said.

She announced the initiative during a program commemorating International Youth Day 2024.

The event, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, highlighted the urgent need for youth engagement in national governance.

Dr. Ibrahim underscored the current administration’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth, noting that the Federal Executive Council had already approved a 30% youth inclusion policy.

However, she stressed that the government is working towards institutionalizing this policy by transforming it into law. “We are taking a bill to the parliament and are seeking all the support we can get to ensure that this bill is advocated for and passed into law, guaranteeing a minimum of 30% youth inclusion across all tiers of government,” she said.

If the bill is passed, it will significantly alter the composition of Nigeria’s leadership, ensuring that young voices are represented at the highest levels of government.

Dr. Ibrahim elaborated, “With 48 ministers on the cabinet, this bill could ensure that at least 15 young people under the age of 40 are part of the cabinet in the next dispensation.”

The Minister emphasized that increasing youth participation in governance is crucial for rapid national development, particularly in policy-making and financial autonomy.

She called for widespread support to ensure that young Nigerians have more opportunities to influence decisions that affect their lives and the future of the nation.

The youth dialogue, held under the theme “Forging the Future: Youth-Led MSMEs Innovating with Digital Solutions to Secure Sustainable Growth, Global Trade, and Resilient Food and Energy Systems,” attracted over 250 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across Nigeria.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah highlighted the pivotal role of youth in driving innovation, particularly in agriculture, technology, and services.

“Seventy-three percent of the entrepreneurs present here are between 18 and 35 years old, demonstrating the significant contribution of young people to digital startups and business innovation,” Ms. Attafuah noted.

Despite the strong educational background of these entrepreneurs, with 60% having tertiary-level education, they face considerable challenges. “Nearly half of these businesses earn only up to 1 million Naira annually, reflecting the broader economic constraints and the difficulty in scaling their operations,” she added.

Ms. Attafuah reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting youth-led businesses in Nigeria.

As the lead agency for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UNDP aims to integrate the insights gained from this dialogue into their strategic actions moving forward. “Our presence here today is to listen and to leverage your insights as we design our next set of actions to support youth businesses in Nigeria,” she said.

The event also featured H.E. Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, OFR, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, who stressed the urgency of addressing youth unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria. “The current state of youth unemployment and underemployment demands immediate attention and action. The consequences, including frustration and social unrest among youth and families, are severe. With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under 25, initiatives like this are critically needed,” she said.

The dialogue marks a significant step toward realizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s goal of fostering young entrepreneurs and securing a sustainable future for Nigeria’s youth.

The proposed legislation for youth inclusion in governance, if passed, could be a transformative milestone in achieving this vision.