TIE Nigeria advocates increased youth participation in 2015 polls

As Nigeria approaches the 2015 elections, analysts have pointed out the need for increased participation of citizens in the business of governance.

In light of this, advocacy groups across the nation are engaging members of the public in discussions towards increased involvement in political leadership and governance. One of such advocacy groups is TIE Nigeria.

TIE Nigeria is a non-partisan, youth-based organisation that champions the cause for good governance in Nigeria. It is an initiative of the 2014 Fellows on the good governance team of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) programme of the United States Consulate, Lagos.

Through its various programmes such as “Youths Decide 2015” and “Speak to Leadership”, TIE Nigeria seeks to build a culture of civic engagement and represent the interests of the Nigerian youth by providing a unique platform for grassroots youth leaders to dialogue with leadership figures in the country. This is in line with the organisation’s belief that youth participation will put more pressure on leadership to perform thereby deepening and spreading the dividends of democracy.

Explaining the goal of the initiative which seeks to facilitate transformation through information and engagement, Eyitayo Ogunmola, co-founder and external relations officer, said the organisation’s concerns “are not limited to how the government runs the country but how many Nigerian youths understand the governance structure of the country.” He added that people cannot effectively participate in what they do not understand.

At its maiden youth engagement summit, tagged “Youth Participation in Governance and Elections”, TIE Nigeria invited five leadership figures in Nigeria to rub minds with 30 selected youth leaders on the subject of youth participation in governance and elections.

At the event, which took place at the Human Development Initiative multipurpose hall, Onike-Yaba, Lagos on October 2, 2014, participants reaffirmed the importance of good governance and youth involvement as we approach the 2015 elections.

Bolaji Owasanoye, a professor and executive director of Human Development Initiatives, encouraged participants to collaborate with like-minded individuals. He also advised them to recognise cultural differences in the communication of their objectives as advocates and ambassadors of good governance in Nigeria. Drawing lessons from the 2011 elections, he said it was necessary to reflect on past elections to build our perspective going forward.

In a similar vein, Adekunle Ogunmola, a resident electoral commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Ijeoma Okey Igbokwe, said that INEC got so many things right in the 2011 elections because the leadership of the commission conducted a study to find out the shortcomings of past elections and come up with various policies which include the involvement of senior academia in tertiary institutions and the engagement of young graduates in the electoral process. According to the INEC official, these policies, in addition to the use of technology, have helped the commission to leverage integrity and trust.

Agreeing on the need for young people to develop confidence, integrity and commitment to serve in political capacity, participants also pointed out the need for youths to gain exposure and take the bold step of joining youth wings of political parties so they could influence their choice of candidates and even vie for offices. Participants reached a consensus that youths have a great role to play in entrenching the tenets of good governance while promoting accountability and transparency in government.