The National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Bala-Aboki, has pledged to deepen youth participation, empowerment and inclusion in the party’s structures and Nigeria’s democratic process.
Bala-Aboki made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja at an event organised to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
Speaking on the occasion, the PDP National Youth Leader said the office had recorded significant achievements within its first 100 days, particularly in the areas of youth mobilisation, inclusion, empowerment, political participation and grassroots development.
He said the PDP youth leadership had mobilised young people and female youths to participate actively in ward, local government and state congresses leading to the party’s National Convention held on March 29 and 30, 2026.
According to him, the office also facilitated the inclusion of young people in various convention committees and sub-committees.
Bala-Aboki said that upon becoming the statutory National Youth Leader, he encouraged young party members to aspire to elective and party positions while coordinating stakeholder engagements that contributed to the emergence of several youth candidates whose names had been certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also disclosed that the office mobilised youths and female youths for the PDP and INEC E-Registration Exercises, contributing to increased youth participation and membership registration across major states of the federation.
The PDP youth leader listed other initiatives of his office to include the hosting of PDP Youth Leaders from the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the six geopolitical zones, aimed at strengthening consultation, coordination and communication among youth leaders.
He said the office had also established and inaugurated the PDP National Youth Leadership Consultative Forum, providing a platform for youth leaders, female youths and deputy national officers to participate in policy dialogue within the party.
Bala-Aboki further announced the commencement of revalidation and fresh registration of PDP Youth Support Groups nationwide, saying the initiative was aimed at identifying genuine supporters, strengthening party structures and building a coordinated grassroots mobilisation network.
He described the inauguration of the PDP Female Youth Wing as one of the most significant milestones recorded under his leadership.
According to him, the initiative is designed to empower young women and ensure that they move beyond being political participants to becoming leaders and decision-makers.
He said the vision was to establish a functional executive structure from the national to ward levels, creating a network of 144,315 executive members of the PDP Female Youth Wing nationwide.
Bala-Aboki also announced a collaboration between the PDP youth leadership and Destiny Hotshot Synergy International to train 100 youths under a Train-the-Trainers initiative.
He explained that the beneficiaries would, upon completing the programme, train 50 youths each in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, thereby creating a multiplier effect and expanding access to practical skills development.
The training, he said, would cover vocational and entrepreneurial skills, including photography, shoe making, duvet making, hair cream production, soap making, shampoo production, air freshener production and aftershave production.
He said the initiative was designed to promote self-reliance, entrepreneurship, job creation and sustainable livelihoods among young Nigerians.
Bala-Aboki called on Nigerian youths to move from political expectations to active participation, stressing that the future of the PDP and Nigerian democracy depended significantly on how young people were engaged and empowered.
“This is the time for action, not docility; time for valued alacrity, not void alarms; time for greater momentum, not murmurs,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to building a youth structure that was inclusive, vibrant, disciplined, innovative and grassroots-driven.
“The time is now, not tomorrow! The PDP youths are determined to mobilise other Nigerians to shun voter apathy in Nigeria. Every voter is a leader. Together, let us shape and forge our chosen future,” he said.
The PDP youth leader commended the party’s National Leader, Chief Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for his support and interventions, which he said contributed to the achievements of his office.
He also expressed appreciation to the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed Takushara, for their guidance and support.
Female Youth Wing Calls for Greater Political Power
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the PDP Female Youth Wing, Loveth Izekor, called for greater political participation and empowerment of young women.
Izekor said the commemoration of International Youth Day was particularly significant to young women because it provided an opportunity to emphasise their role as leaders and decision-makers in society.
She urged young women to move beyond being mobilised for political activities to becoming active participants in decision-making and agenda-setting.
According to her, the PDP Female Youth Wing was established to train, mentor and create opportunities for young women while ensuring that they have a meaningful role in the party.
“This dialogue is not just a celebration. It is a strategy session,” she said, adding that participants would hear from policy experts, women in parliament and young women making contributions in their communities.
Izekor called for increased access to political opportunities, funding and elective positions for young women.
She urged the participants to participate boldly, claim power responsibly and lead with purpose.
“The future is not something we enter; it is something we create. And it starts with us, here, today,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the PDP leadership, the National Youth Leader, party stakeholders, partners and members of the Female Youth Wing for supporting the initiative.
The event brought together PDP leaders, youth leaders from across the country, female youths, party stakeholders and other invited guests to mark International Youth Day and deliberate on youth participation in politics and governance.
