A coalition of young leaders and stakeholders gathered in Abuja to unveil the Future Is Now Project, a bold national initiative aimed at l increasing youth participation in political leadership across the country.
Participants noted that young Nigerians are not merely the leaders of tomorrow, but are the leaders of today, rejecting any form of delay, denial, or exclusion from political leadership.
In a bold vision for the nation’s future, a communique read by its Convener, Mr. Laolu Akande, laid out clear, ambitious targets to be achieved by the next election cycle.
To realise these goals, a pledge was made to champion political inclusion by lobbying, negotiating, and mobilising support for credible youth candidates across all political parties, while efforts will also focus on mentorship programmes, capacity building for young leaders, and forming cross-cultural alliances to ensure governance reforms favoring youth representation.
At the unveiling, homage was paid to Nigeria’s elder statesmen and stateswomen, acknowledging their foundational contributions while urging them to graciously yield space for emerging young leaders.
The gathering opened with an address by the Interim Chairman of the project, Rep Abdussamad Dasuki, who described the event not merely as a gathering, but as the ignition of a movement – a national commitment to dramatically increase youth leadership at all levels of governance, saying that the call was for older generations to act as mentors and guides, ensuring a smooth and sustained leadership transition.
Rep Dasuki said the Future is Now Project is born of sacrifice and demands sacrifice from the older generation.
“Today, we are not just announcing a project, but igniting a movement, one born of sacrifice, fueled by persuasion and courage, and sustained by the dreams of millions of Nigerian youth. The Future is not tomorrow, the Future is Now,”Rep Dasuki noted.
In his speech, Rep Dasuki reflected on Nigeria’s political history, noting that while young leaders had once been central to the country’s formation and early development, they have increasingly been sidelined from positions of power, despite the demographic reality that over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 35.
He cited the signing of the Not Too Young to Run Act in 2018 as a step forward, but stressed that persistent barriers still prevent meaningful youth participation in governance.
Rep Dasuki called for a generational shift, where younger leaders not only contest elections but are supported to win and lead.
Drawing lessons from recent youth-led global protests in countries like Nepal, Rep Dasuki warned of the dangers of political exclusion and the potential unrest that can follow when large youth populations feel alienated from their governments.
“When a large demographic feels excluded from decision-making, frustration festers. We must act now, not only to empower, but to prevent disillusionment that can lead to instability,” he warned.
Punch/Halima Abdulganiyu
