The Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLSA) Cohort 13 (Nigeria) has called for a shift from token youth participation to meaningful representation and structural leadership in Nigeria’s political and civic spaces
The call was underscored at the Nigeria Young Leaders Civic Engagement Dialogue, themed “At the Table: A New Era of Youth Leadership,” which brought together young leaders and civic stakeholders to examine pathways to inclusive leadership, policy influence, and sustainable civic participation.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the dialogue, YPLSA Vice President, Ms. Adepeju Salami, highlighted the importance of creating platforms that enable young people to participate meaningfully in leadership and civic decision-making.
A major highlight of the dialogue was the Mental Health and Wellbeing Session facilitated by Dr. Victoria Thomas, which addressed leadership burnout, self-care, and psychological resilience among young people involved in advocacy and politics. The session emphasised the importance of mental wellbeing in sustaining effective leadership and long-term civic engagement.
Joyce Akpan, the second speaker, examined strategic leadership, policy influence, and the need to translate civic advocacy into measurable outcomes. Her session focused on sustaining civic impact beyond public campaigns and social media engagement.
The dialogue also featured an interactive panel discussion themed “Youth as Stakeholders, Not Placeholders,” which challenged the practice of limiting young people to symbolic representation without providing genuine opportunities to influence decisions. Discussions centred on strengthening youth participation and creating pathways for young people to assume substantive leadership roles in political and civic institutions.
Beyond the presentations, the dialogue provided a platform for networking, experience-sharing, and practical conversations on the role of young people in shaping governance and public policy.
YPLSA Cohort 13 (Nigeria) reaffirmed its commitment to developing ethical, strategic, and resilient young leaders equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s democratic development.