President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahamad Lawan, has called on the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure more youth representation in governance to facilitate active participation in policy matters and decision-making processes to help deepen democracy at all levels in the country.
Lawan made the call when the Youth National Lobby Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by its chairman, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, paid him an advocacy visit in his office in Abuja.
Present at the meeting were other members of the APC National Progressives Youth Lobby Group such as Honourable Shina Peller, Federal Honourable Representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency in Oyo State, Mr Ife Adebayo, SA to the President, Dr Sanusi Ohaire, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Mr Ahmad Salihjo, MD/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Mr Olusegun Dada, Head of Digital Communications Unit, APC National Secretariat amongst others.
Lawan said the ruling party and indeed Nigeria would gain a lot when there are many young people in the leadership of the APC across the board and also in the governance of Nigeria.
According to the Senate President, having achieved so much as the ruling party by delivering on key promises made to Nigerians ahead of the 2023 elections, particularly on the provision of critical infrastructure needed for development, youth engagement remains a way to further boost the confidence of Nigerians in the APC.
He hinged his position on the fact that youths have creative energy and number, and they form a critical mass when it comes to political victory.
“When we sit at a table, and many decisions will be taken, why can’t we have youth representation? Because that is what will help them understand the logic, the philosophy of such decisions when they are taken and, therefore, they are better prepared to be in a position to do the same when they eventually become leaders, rather than always asking them to go and deal with youth matters.
“Young people shouldn’t be relegated to matters that involved the youth only but also be part of major circles of the party,” Lawan said.
A member of the delegation, Ms Fatima Kakuri, who spoke on behalf of the committee noted that the APC Progressives Youths were engaging all the critical stakeholders to achieve strategic mainstreaming of the youth in the leadership of the APC and the governance structure of the nation.
She noted that the youths were appreciative of the age cap for youth leaders which to some extent was achieved in the ward congresses but that it would be even more beneficial for the APC to have a critical representation that is youthful.
