Concerned with the rising marginalization of young people in Nigeria’s democratic process and the routine abuse of their rights, We the People with the support of the European Union has initiated a project- #IncludeNaija- aimed at reversing the trend and ensuring that Nigerian youths participate more intensely and actively in the country’s leadership; and are better equipped to protect and defend their rights. To kick off the project, We the People hosted a 2-day capacity building workshop in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state on the 3rd and 4th of June, 2025. Participants at the training were drawn from 4 Niger Delta states- Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa. They included youth organisations, tertiary students, young community activists, women groups and people living with disabilities.
It will be recalled that despite attempts to increase youth representation in politics by lowering the age limit in 2018 after massive campaigning by young people under the banner of #Nottooyoungtorun, the dynamics of participation have largely remained the same. One key reason for this is that young people lack adequate knowledge of their rights to participate, and skills needed to engage in political processes.
Similarly, the youth demography in Nigeria continues to be heavily exposed to abuses by law enforcement and some categories of public officials. In 2020, this gave rise to tensions and mass protests against the Police. Using the hashtag #EndSARS, youths protested in several Nigeria cities, forcing state governments to establish panels of inquiry aimed at investigating reports of malfeasance against law enforcement units in Nigeria. While the mass protests resulted in the disbanding of the most notorious of the police units- the Special Anti-Robbery Squad- 5 years on, the abuses may have intensified. Young people continue to be stigmatized and abused by the police in rather large numbers across the country.
The capacity enhancement workshop served as a forum to interrogate the prevalent drivers of exclusion and abuse targeting young people, while providing the needed skills and tools for ensuring that youths participate and advocate more fully and actively. More specifically, the workshop provided participants with knowledge and skills to participate in political processes and demand constitutionally guaranteed rights and accountability from public offices, while empowering participants to effectively engage in the democratic process and advocate for their rights and interests within their communities.
Resource persons at the event included youth coach and disability champion, Mmanti Umoh, Dr. Udy Akpan of the Youth Alive Foundation, Tijah Bolton of Policy Alert and Ken Henshaw of We the People.
