‘It’s time to pass the baton’ — Hamzat Lawal exits Not Too Young To Run movement

Hamzat Lawal, activist and chief executive officer of Connected Development (CODE), has revealed why he exited the Not Too Young To Run movement.

Lawal announced on his 36th birthday that he was stepping down from the movement as one of its conveners.

“I’m transitioning away from my involvement in the Not Too Young To Run movement,” he said in a tweet.

“I believe it is time to pass the baton to a new and younger generation of campaigners who will continue from where we stopped and achieve even greater things than we, the pioneers of the movement.”

Speaking to journalists in Abuja after the announcement, Lawal said he was leaving the movement for younger people to bring fresh ideas and innovations.

“I believe it’s time to transition so younger and vibrant campaigners can be allowed to take the cause further. And also for them to bring fresh ideas and innovations into the movement and ensure growth and sustainability,” Lawal said.

“I am proud to be part of a process where young people rallied together to form a shared alliance across Nigeria and showed how with the correct values, proper advocacy, and with one voice, we could improve our democracy and give young people a chance to contribute to governance.

“More importantly, we have seen more younger people running for public offices and winning elections to represent their constituencies, and this couldn’t have been possible without the bill.

“We’ve also seen an increase in youth’s participation in civic engagement and movement building with lessons drawn from the Not Too Young To Run movement.”