By EricJames Ochigbo

A group, the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), has called for greater investment in youth leadership development and inclusive governance to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

The Secretary-General of CoSPAL, Amb. Dapo Oyewole, made the call at the National Youth Leadership and Ecosystem Conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

The conference was organised by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund to mark its fifth anniversary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the conference was “Powering Youth Leadership Ecosystems for Nigeria’s Democratic and Development Futures”.

Oyewole said that young people, particularly those serving in local communities, must have fair access to mentorship, resources and opportunities to participate meaningfully in leadership and governance.

The secretary-general emphasised the importance of recognising grassroots contributions, warning that neglecting rural communities could undermine broader national development.

“We must not ignore grassroots leadership.

‘’It is nice for us to be in nice hotels, air-conditioned areas and things of that nature, but we must be wary of the danger of neglecting the grassroots.

“If we ignore the village boys, the city boys may not be able to stand. It needs to work together, the city and the village as a whole,” he said.

Oyewole said that national leadership could only be strengthened when its foundations were firmly rooted in local service, adding that meaningful political participation must begin at the grassroots.

He also advocated a multisectoral, whole-of-society approach to mobilising resources for youth leadership development.

According to him, leadership development requires dependable funding and long-term commitment to support not only individual programmes but also institutional capacity and continuity.

Oyewole said that with declining foreign aid, businesses, foundations and development partners must work with government and civil society organisations to sustain youth-led initiatives.

He urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration by connecting existing fellowships and leadership development initiatives to create broader opportunities for young people.

Oyewole challenged political leaders, businesses and institutions to demonstrate their belief in young people by giving them opportunities to serve and lead rather than merely making promises.

On her part, the Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Ms Khehinde Ayeni, said that the conference was part of efforts to resource young persons for leadership.

She said that young people should be given opportunities to contribute to policy development and nation building.

“Our role is to see where young people can plug into agency roles that exist and so we facilitate conversations with state and federal ministries to shape the nation youth policy and plan.

“Ahead of 2027 elections, we urge young people to find means to engage and not be discouraged but to be the centre of strong conversation.

‘’They should do that with deep research and heightened awareness of not just their rights, but how they play a role in nation building,” she said.

Also, Mr Chaikh Ousmane, the Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria, said that the future of Nigeria depended on the youths.

He emphasised the need to create space for young Nigerians on the table of major decision-making for an inclusive society.

“Youth participation is important; Nigeria’s population has huge number of youths and the future of this country depends on the youth.

“If you do not make a way for youths at the table and ensure that their position are taken in key decisions, we cannot build an inclusive future for them.

“So, in this election, we call them to be a part of that conversation and let the youth perspective take the lead in future of Nigeria,” Ousmane said. (NAN)

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Edited by Esenvosa Izah