Prof. Attahiru Jega, former chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Election Commission (INEC), is gearing up to advocate for more young people getting involved in politics, which could greatly benefit Nigeria’s growing democracy.
Jega is expected to share his thoughts during a public talk at the Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State. His topic will be “Elections and Good Governance in Nigeria.”
He believes that it’s crucial for young people to actively participate in politics to strengthen and support democracy in Nigeria. By including young voices in political discussions, he thinks we can tackle current governance challenges and bring fresh ideas to the table.
Jega sees voting as a powerful way to bring about better leadership in any democratic country. He aims to encourage young people to get involved in the electoral process, urging them to seek change in leadership through their participation.
Even though youth engagement in politics has dropped in recent years, despite some improvements since 2011, Jega’s upcoming talk might inspire young individuals to register for their voter cards, vote, and even join political parties.
He plans to emphasize how important it is for young people to engage and participate, warning that not getting involved will only make ongoing problems worse.
In his speech, Jega is likely to address the frustration many young people feel about the electoral system, which often stems from politicians failing to keep their promises.
He said that some youths had expressed frustration with governance in Nigeria, arguing that, “democracy has failed us but I tell you democracy has not failed us only the operators did.”
He said that the poor performance of some public servants resulting in bad governance and lack of trust in the electoral process amongst others had discouraged youths from participating in politics.
Jega pointed out that a lot of young people tend to support military takeovers whenever they occur in Africa. This is mostly because they feel let down by politicians and how they manage their duties.
He stressed that the government and political figures need to make elections more reliable. This can happen through improved governance, transparency, and effective processes that will motivate young people to engage more in politics.
Professor Umaru Pate, the Vice Chancellor, stated that this lecture is significant as Nigeria seeks ways to refresh its democracy and build trust in its institutions while enhancing governance.
He highlighted that the country is dealing with many issues, such as a lack of public trust, low participation from citizens, increasing misinformation, and ongoing governance challenges.
On the bright side, many citizens are showing strength, institutions are putting in effort, and there is a strong wish for reforms that can boost democracy.
To build a better future, Pate thinks it’s important to learn from our history, broaden our discussions, and encourage leaders at all levels to take action.
Dapo Olorunyomi, the respected Publisher of PremiumTimes, highlighted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made great progress by using technology in the election process.
He urged the government and relevant agencies to continue to leverage technology to improve the system and make the voting experience better for everyone.
(NAN)