Nigerian politics has been under scrutiny since the beginning of the third republic in 1999. 

One of the fundamental questions has always been why there are rarely any youth representations on the state or national political scene. There has been an outcry from the youth of Nigeria to be included in the running of affairs. Still, the current crop of old politicians feels indebted to so many members of their age group or religious affiliation that it may take another quarter of a century to get to the turn of today’s youth, who will then be older adults and women too.

Given the apparent state of things, one may be forced to assume that “it is what it is”, a phrase that has become a general slur amongst the Nigeria youth, especially on social media. Inclusion is not on the immediate agenda of the two main political parties, APC & PDP.

Despite the preceding, there are excellent examples amongst the Nigerian youths that is very loadable. One of such is Dayo Israel, the newly elected National Youth Leader of the APC. Dayo has been a beacon of light in the Nigerian political arena since his a teenager. My first encounter with him was when the United Nations selected him to stand for all delegates to the UN General Assembly Unique Session on Children on a special CNN Live Meeting in 2002 and also led the Nigerian Children delegation to the UN World Top on Sustainable Development in Joburg 2002 and also the Globe Water Forum in Japan 2003.

Since then, it is easy to see how he has gracefully grown in the public scenes. This is unlike the majority of the Nigerian youth, who passionately love their country but would instead not participate in public affairs because they deem it dirty and porous. The truth is, more youth participation in Nigerian politics could only help drone the discus on inclusion and session planning.

It is easy to make the bold claim that there is rarely a candidate as prepared and qualified as Dayo Israel, who has been in the public space for about 20 years. He has sought education at the highest level in Nigeria and worldwide, including in the United Kingdom and the United States. Dayo has two times been acknowledged in 2016 and 2017 as one of 50 UK’s brightest young leaders. Likewise, he was recognised as one of the leading 25 Promising Nigerian Youths under 35 to Serve Nigeria in 2016 and as one of Africa’s. His pedigree is that of a trailblazer.

What lessons can Nigerian Youths learn from Dayo’s emergence as National Youth Leader of the ruling party;

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There is more to national transformation than complaining, nagging and bickering for a better country. You have to play a part in the transformation that you desire. Youth will have to have a change of mindset about the opportunity to play a role in politics and public administration. The old generation may not be ready to pass the baton yet, but the Youth must be wise to be adequately prepared for the day the opportunity will appear, rather than being a celebrated “keyboard warrior” on Twitter or Facebook specialising in demonising and verifying those in politics. Get involved from where you are, play a part in the development of your immediate society. Develop yourself academically, psychologically and emotionally. The future belongs to the prepared youth.

There is a Yoruba proverb that says, “the person that knows how to watch hands will eat with elders. This is precisely the case study of the man I know in Dayo Israel, who has in the last two decades, built a great network of valuable relationships globally as well as maintaining enough proximity to every government of the day in Nigeria. This trait would be considered by much Nigerian youth as being contaminated, being initiated into a cult or becoming corrupt. But, there is nothing farther from the truth. What you will find in the Nigerian political arena is that most of the current politicians assume office with a strong relationship. The most fierce of opposition are often close allies either from childhood or at some stage of growing into maturity.

My advice to Nigerian Youth is that – don’t throw away your future because it looks cloudy. After the cloud, there will be rain, and after the rain, the sun will shine again. Be a student of life, be a relationship builder, manage your expectations and get engaged productively and respectfully for the sake of national transformation. The future of Nigeria is with her youth.

Abraham Great is a management  consultant, trainer, destiny coach, leadership expert, author, legal adviser, content writer, song writer, artist and a clergyman.

He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Great Dynasty Group – with subsidiaries in UK, Nigeria, Ireland, and North America.

By Abraham Great