Nigeria must prepare youths for leadership roles — Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has asserted that Nigeria must actively prepare its young people for leadership positions, moving beyond the notion of them being solely the 'leaders of tomorrow.' He stressed that immediate preparation is crucial for them to influence the country's future effectively.

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It is high time we prepared young people for power. As the trustees of our tomorrow, they must understand how government works and how to use political office to change society for the better. Without this preparation, they risk squandering the opportunity to effect real, lasting good.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship, Abbas explained that Nigeria's democratic future hinges on cultivating a generation of leaders who are ethical, competent, and understand the importance of democratic institutions. He noted that leadership involves responsibility and accountability, not just holding office, and that proper preparation is essential to prevent young leaders from squandering opportunities for positive societal change.

Abbas highlighted the increasing engagement of Nigerian youth as voters, entrepreneurs, and innovators, arguing that they should no longer be relegated to the future. He stated that their time to influence decisions shaping their lives is now. The Speaker also reiterated the House's dedication to enhancing women's representation in politics, referencing proposed constitutional amendments for reserved seats in legislative bodies.

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The youths are no longer merely the leaders of tomorrow; their time has come. As voters, innovators, entrepreneurs and community leaders, they deserve the power to influence the decisions that shape their lives today.

He clarified that the aim is not to lower leadership standards but to dismantle barriers preventing capable women from entering politics. These barriers include inadequate campaign finance, exclusion from party structures, cultural stereotypes, and electoral violence. The LEAD Fellowship, an 18-month program, aims to train 1,000 student leaders from 10 tertiary institutions in ethical leadership, public policy, and governance.

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Let me be absolutely clear: we are not attempting to lower the standard of leadership. We are attempting to remove the barriers that prevent capable women from even reaching the starting line.