On Friday July 18th, 2025, We the People in partnership with YouCan-B Initiative and the University of Calabar Youth Friendly Hub held a youth civic leadership rally with the theme, “Empowered to Lead: Inspire, Influence and Impact” in the University of Calabar, Cross River State. The event brought together over 200 students and youth leaders, all united by the common goal of challenging and ultimately changing the prevailing exclusion and marginalization of Nigerian youth from critical national conversations and decision-making spaces.
The rally kicked off with a call-to-action speech by human rights lawyer and We the People’s Project Officer, Austin Vicker who emphasized that rights are not handed down—they are claimed and protected. Participants marched around the campus distributing campaign flyers promoting civic education across campus.
The rally continued with a lecture at the Cross River Community Hall, where civic educator John Joseph Atsu introduced We the People as an organization rooted in inclusion and human rights. He reminded participants that “We the People”—the opening words of Nigeria’s Constitution—affirm that power belongs to the citizenry.
Participants also engaged in key conversations around youth leadership and social justice. Ms. Ukeme Albert, project officer at We the People challenged the participants to go beyond tokenism in governance, urging them to get involved at the grassroots, develop leadership skills, and demand accountability. She introduced the SWOT framework as a tool for personal leadership growth.
The rally ended with a rousing charge on participants to move from symbolic victories like Not Too Young to Run to real political engagement, overcoming barriers like fear, gatekeeping, and lack of training.
Through powerful discussions, shared experiences, and a strong spirit of solidarity, participants called for a more inclusive and responsive system that recognizes the voices, energies, and aspirations of young people as essential to shaping the future of Nigeria. The gathering served as a bold reminder that when young people are meaningfully engaged, they can lead transformative change and contribute significantly to building a more just, equitable, and participatory society.
The activity is part of the #IncludeNaija project for youth inclusion and participation supported by the European Union and implemented by We the People, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and Social Action.
