By Nefishetu Yakubu
Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has called for greater investments in Nigerian youths.
Sulaiman, who spoke with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, said Nigeria stood at a crucial development crossroads, with roughly 60 per cent of its population below 30 with enormous potentials.
“Yet, young Nigerians face socio-economic challenges arising from unimplemented policies, political promises and systemic exclusion, requiring evidence-based advocacy, accountability and stronger institutional commitments from government,” he said.
The director-general said that NILDS had repositioned itself beyond legislative research, becoming a centre for democratic capacity development, legislative strengthening, policy innovation, leadership, inclusion and youth engagement nationwide.
He stated that through collaborations with the National Assembly, development partners, universities, government institutions and civil society, the institute had strengthened research, policy-making, institutional capacity, governance and democratic reforms.
Sulaiman emphasised that political processes remained largely dominated by older generations, while youths had been reduced to instruments for electoral manipulation, violence and mobilisation across Nigeria.
He urged government to produce actionable strategies that would align the youth policy commitments with robust budgetary allocations, effective implementation, monitoring and accountability across relevant sectors.
The director-general also called for a comprehensive model that would examine challenges confronting young Nigerians and produce sustainable development plan for them.
“To our youths, maximise opportunities to learn, build capacity and become active co-creators and monitors of public policy, budgets and implementation processes effectively.
“Listen carefully, seek clarification on budgetting, implementation and oversight, and be equipped to track public investments, demand accountability and influence decisions affecting your future effectively.
“I am confident that dialogue with the youth will catalyse actionable policies, sustainable development and change, while empowering the next generation of leaders to shape Nigeria’s future,” he added.
Sulaiman reaffirmed NILDS management’s commitment youths dialogue initiative and urged stakeholders to nurture young Nigerians who had been strengthening and safeguarding the country’s democracy.(NAN)
NY/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq