NYAN commends Senate on Not Too Young To Run Bill

Urges Youth To Take Advantage Of The Opporunity

Impressed by the recent passage of Not Too Young To Run Bill by the National Assembly, The National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) has commended the legislators for increasing the chances of Nigerian youths, who are seeking elective positions in government.

According to the National Speaker of NYAN Akhigbe Olumhense, the group has resolved to embark on a nationwide sensitisation campaign to educate young people about the bill, starting with the group’s Southwest Youth Summit holding today in Oshogbo, Osun State capital.

The Assembly also plans to organise a National Youth Summit on August 12, 2017, and a National Leaders Youth Conference on November 4, 2017, all aimed at helping young people take full advantage of the bill, with the full awareness that it is not yet over.

“It will still pass through the State Houses of Assemblies, so the campaigns continues. The importance of the bill cannot be over emphasised; it will allow innovative ideas of young people to be brought into governance. This bill will restore hope in the young people and create the zeal for active participation in governance,” he said.

According to Akhigbe, the development shows that Nigerian is ready to embrace change in this digital era, which has seen other nations produce young leaders, who are more informed and ready to lead in an increasingly digital global village.

“France and Canada is a clear example; the future of any nation depends on her youth, hence this bill is opening Nigeria for greatness,” he said.

On the preparedness on the side of the youths to take advantage of the opportunity being provided by the bill, the Speaker said, “with the way the agitations of young people was handled, and the effective mobilisation across the country, it’s clear that the youth are ready to provide the needed tonic in our national development drive. The effective use of the social media all goes to show that the youth are ready. Also, the sudden rise in the number of pro-youth political organisations in the country is a pointer to the fact that the youth are ready,” he assured.

He informed that the Southwest Youth Summit holding in Oshogbo aims at strengthening youth participation in governance. “It is meant to promote true governance in Nigeria anchored on effective youth engagement. The conference will also prepare the youth on how to maximise the gains from the Not Too Young To Run Bill and ensure that all state chapters of NYAN continue to campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote when the bill gets to the states. The future is now and we must build the Nigeria of Tomorrow today,” he said.