The House of Representatives has called on Nigerian youths to take centre stage in shaping the nation’s democratic future by actively participating in the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas made the call at the Youth Town Hall, one of the flagship events of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
He stressed that the quality of Nigeria’s democracy will largely depend on the choices, conduct and civic engagement of young people.
Represented by the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Speaker said “the 10th House had deliberately placed youth development, inclusion and leadership at the heart of its legislative agenda.”
Speaker Abbas noted that the Youth Town Hall had evolved beyond a dialogue platform into an institutional mechanism through which young Nigerians contribute directly to national policymaking and legislative reforms.
According to him, “several proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process and other key national policies originated from recommendations made by participants during previous editions of the Youth Town Hall.”
“Many of the ideas now reflected in the ongoing constitutional amendment proposals and other national policies were shaped by contributions made during previous editions of this Town Hall. Your voices have influenced outcomes, and that is precisely why this platform remains relevant.”
The Speaker’s representative highlighted a number of youth-focused legislative initiatives already undertaken by the House, including the passage of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Bill, the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill sponsored by Speaker Abbas, and the constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years.
He also pointed to landmark reforms in education financing, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity and the digital economy, describing them as strategic interventions designed to create more opportunities for innovation, employment and economic empowerment for young Nigerians.
With political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections already gaining momentum, the Lawmaker described young people as Nigeria’s largest voting bloc and the most influential force in determining the credibility and direction of the country’s democracy.
“The quality of our elections and the future of our democracy will, to a large extent, be determined by the choices, conduct and active involvement of young Nigerians,” he said.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, applauded the National Assembly for institutionalising the Youth Town Hall, describing it as “a landmark initiative that has opened the legislature to meaningful youth engagement.”
He said that previous administrations had inadvertently created a disconnect between young people and public institutions, stressing that the current administration was deliberately reversing the trend by promoting inclusive governance and sustained dialogue.
“It is very important that young Nigerians are given the space to speak, ask questions, share ideas and take part in decisions that affect their future,” the Minister said.
He listed the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, youth enterprise support programmes and the proposed Youth Green Fund among key interventions aimed at equipping Nigerian youths for opportunities in the rapidly expanding digital and green economies.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, challenged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology and artificial intelligence as catalysts for national development and global competitiveness.
Halilu argued that innovation, rather than natural resource endowment, would determine the future prosperity of nations, revealing that NASENI’s Innovate Nigeria programme is providing grants of up to ₦250 million to support innovators, inventors and technology-driven enterprises.
He urged young people to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills while developing innovative solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
On its part, Yiaga Africa urged Nigerian youths to move beyond discussions and translate their passion into sustained civic engagement before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
