Nigerian House Speaker Calls for Youth Leadership Development, Launches Fellowship

Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has urged a proactive approach to preparing young Nigerians for leadership roles, emphasizing they should be active participants in shaping the nation's future. Speaking at the launch of the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship in Abuja, organized by the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), Abbas stressed the need to equip the youth with essential knowledge, ethical values, and practical leadership skills for effective public service. He stated that leadership transcends holding political office, rooted instead in responsibility, accountability, and respect for democratic institutions.

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It is time we deliberately prepared young people for leadership. As the trustees of our tomorrow, they must understand how government works and how political office can be used to improve society. Without such preparation, they risk losing the opportunity to make lasting positive impact.

Abbas described the LEAD Fellowship, aimed at tertiary institution students, as a crucial investment in Nigeria's democratic future. He asserted that the youth's time has arrived, highlighting their roles as voters, innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who deserve a voice in decisions affecting them. The Speaker also defended proposed constitutional amendments designed to create special seats for women in legislative bodies, clarifying that the initiative aims to dismantle structural barriers to women's political participation rather than lower leadership standards. He identified inadequate campaign financing, exclusion from party structures, cultural stereotypes, and electoral violence as significant obstacles for women in politics.

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

Addressing the fellowship beneficiaries, Abbas encouraged them to focus on solving societal problems rather than solely pursuing political office. He articulated a vision for a Nigerian generation that is not just more ambitious but also wiser, more ethical, inclusive, technologically adept, and institutionally minded. To ensure the initiative's longevity, the Speaker proposed establishing a LEAD Alumni Policy Network to foster mentorship, policy research, and collaboration among participants. He reaffirmed the House's commitment to partnering with GMI to enhance citizen engagement and promote inclusive governance.

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We are not attempting to lower the standard of leadership. We are seeking to remove the barriers that prevent capable women from reaching the starting line.