By Angela Atabo/Adebayo Gbeja
A non-profit organisation, I am Nigeria Initiative, in collaboration with Mezurashi, has urged Nigerian youths to move beyond the “leaders of tomorrow” tag and participate actively in democratic process.
The group said that active participation in democratic process would position the youth as nation builders making them both today and tomorrow’s leaders.
The call was made on Saturday in Abuja at an event marking the 2026 International Youth Day organised by the I am Nigeria Initiative in partnership with Mezurashi.
The theme of the event was: “Youth and The Nigerian Dream: From Responsibility to Participation— Building the Nigeria We Want.”
The Founder of I am Nigeria Initiative, Mrs Ismah Ekpo-Alade, said the group was a movement and national renaissance established to promote patriotism, national pride, hope and unity in the youths.
Ekpo-Alade said the movement sought to inspire citizens to “stand tall and build together”, stressing that Nigeria’s destiny should not be defined by despair, but by determination.
“The I Am Nigeria Initiative project is a national reawakening, a movement to remind us that being Nigeria is a blessing and a calling to stand tall and build together.
“This is a movement to restore pride, hope and unity amongst our citizens, especially our youths. Reminding every Nigerian that the plan to build the nation lies with all of us.
“This is a reawakening for national pride, not imposed, but inspired. It is a reminder that every Nigerian is a builder, that our destiny is not written in despair, but in determination, but in our collective voice.”
Ekpo-Alade explained that the collaboration with Mezurashi, referred to as the “Mezurashi Youth Quake”, emerged after the young founder of the fashion brand pledged to support her group toward national development.
She called on youths to ensure that history recorded their contributions not merely through complaints but through participation, creativity, questioning, voting, service and nation building.
Also speaking the Chief Executive Officer of Mezurashi Youth Quake, Mr Omar Oladeinde, stressed that patriotism should go beyond displaying the Nigerian flag at sporting events and concerts, stressing that genuine patriotism must translate into active citizenship.
Oladeinde, represented by the Programme Coordinator, Mr Favour Johnson, said patriotism should be participatory in national activities geared toward advancing the course of the nation.
“That is why we are here. What does I am Nigeria Initiative mean? It means Nigeria is not somebody else’s responsibility. It means that when something goes wrong in my community, I care.
“When leadership succeeds, I acknowledge it. When leadership fails, I have the courage to ask questions responsibly. When elections come, I participate. When my community needs volunteers, I show up.
“When misinformation appears on my phone, I don’t automatically forward it.When I have an opportunity to create value, I create it. That is citizenship. And that is the Nigerian dream we believe in.”
According to him, the concept of “I am Nigeria Initiative” is a call for citizens, particularly young people, to recognise that the responsibility for the country’s future rests not only with government and political leaders, but with every citizen.
He explained that Mezurashi’s partnership with I am Nigeria Initiative was based on the understanding that young people communicate and express identity through culture, music, fashion, technology and creativity.
He said the partnership sought to make civic responsibility part of youth culture and encourage them to identify proudly with participation in Nigeria’s future.
This, he said, informed the campaign slogan “Wear Your Vote.”
He emphasised that voting was only one aspect of nation building, noting that responsible citizenship also involved acquiring skills, building businesses, serving communities, rejecting violence and respecting people across ethnic, religious and political divides.
He challenged young Nigerians to complement their demand for better governance with responsible citizenship.
He urged youths not to wait for political appointments before contributing to national development, saying they could make an impact from wherever they were.
“Show up in your community activities to engender socio-economic growth. Stand up responsibly for what is right. Build yourself, build your ideas, build your business, build your community and ultimately you helped build the country,” he said.
He said the Nigerian dream would not come through a government announcement but would be built gradually through responsible citizens, involvement in community programmes, innovation, elections and successive generations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu