From John Adams, Minna
A member of House of Representatives representing Iseyin Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Shina Abiola Peller, has urged Nigeria’s youths to take advantage of the “Not Too Young To Rule” law to seek leadership positions at all levels of government in the 2023 general elections.
Honorable Peller said he is optimistic that Nigerian youths have what it takes to change the narratives and take the country out of its present mirage of challenges, stressing that the 2023 general elections will provide young people with ample opportunities to make themselves relevant in leadership position in the country.
The representative spoke in Minna at the ongoing two-day Get Involved Leadership Training for selected youths across the 25 Local Government Areas of Niger State.
The Get Involved Leadership Training is being organised by the Lead Generation Initiative, an NGO, in conjunction with the Niger State Government aimed at training young people in effective leadership skills, strategic communication, political mobilisation, active citizenship and nation-building.
Peller maintained that for the Nigerian youths to actively take center stage in decision making in the country, there is the need to raise their awareness about community development, and consciously training interdependent leaders, stressing that those who will be trained at this two day seminar, will be equipped to train others that can drive development from the grassroots.
The lawmaker who is also the Chairman of Lead Generation Initiative, an NGO, pointed out that ‘we cannot be satisfied until youths know their roles in leadership. We can never be satisfied as long as youths are not actively involved in nation-building. We have come to break the stereotype, to shatter that thinking that leadership is only for the elderly.’
The stated further that the simple message of the training is ‘to seek to get informed, show interest in national discourse, join a political party, get involved because with our numbers we should have the largest stake in governance.’
He reminded the youths that 2023 presents a huge opportunity for everyone interested in politics, as there won’t be an incumbent president contesting at the polls, assuring that ‘it’s best to say there will be a level playing ground for all.’
Also speaking at the seminar, which has no fewer than 100 youths participating, the Executive Director of Lead Generation Initiative, Mrs Ayobola Peller, told the youths that at the end of the leadership training they would have been strengthened and positioned not just as a leader, but one with the ability to train and make other leaders.
According to her, ‘for you to have been here means that you are potential Nigerian leaders who will change the narrative of leadership and governance in our country for better.
‘And this is exactly what Lead Generation Initiative aims to achieve with Get Involved Leadership Training. It is a train-the-trainer leadership training, where having been adequately trained today, you are expected to return to your various local governments to replicate the training for the larger participants at the local government and ward level.’
The two-day leadership training seminar ends today in Minna.