Stop relying on politicians for money, offer value — Youth minister

Nigeria's Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Wisdom, has issued a powerful call to action for the nation's youth, urging them to pivot from seeking financial handouts from politicians towards cultivating skills and contributing innovative ideas for national development. Speaking at the Forum of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria, Wisdom stressed that true engagement lies in offering valuable contributions rather than prioritizing immediate financial gratification.

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A lot of people don’t look at the vision; they look at immediate gratification. That’s why people come to campaigns just for money. After the campaign, that’s the end. They don’t contribute ideas. So, let’s have something we want to discuss. If you go to a politician and don’t discuss ideas, if you put money first, the politician may give you money, but will ignore you next time.

Wisdom's message directly addresses a prevalent sentiment among Nigerian youth who often feel marginalized in political appointments. He advocates for a proactive approach, asserting that young people must "work for the betterment of the country" and actively participate in decision-making processes. He pointedly noted that "our leaders don’t fight themselves; only the youth fight themselves to please the leaders," encouraging a shift towards unity and constructive engagement.

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So, it’s time for the youth to work for the betterment of the country. Our leaders don’t fight themselves; only the youth fight themselves to please the leaders. So, young people must be part of the decision-making process, not only seeking office appointments.

The Minister highlighted the current administration's efforts towards youth inclusion, citing the appointment of young ministers, including himself, as evidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment. He emphasized that this inclusion is a "necessity" for national progress, not merely a gesture. Wisdom also revealed government plans to ensure job availability after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, signaling a focus on tangible support for young graduates.

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I will also add that in the history of Nigeria, this is the only administration that has youth inclusion. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tried to make a commitment to young people. We have ministers who are between 40 and 45. I’m not even up to 40 years myself. My only agenda here is to lay the template for young people to see that they can do it.

From a Nigerian youth perspective, this message is both empowering and challenging. While acknowledging the government's stated commitment, many young Nigerians grapple with the reality of limited opportunities and the pervasive culture of patronage. The call to develop skills and offer ideas is crucial, but it must be accompanied by genuine platforms for implementation and recognition. The Forum of National Youth Leaders, represented by figures like Eze Chukwu, echoes this sentiment, pointing out that despite youth comprising over 60% of the population, their representation in power remains significantly low, and political parties often lack concrete plans for them.

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It’s high time we started supporting ourselves. We’re not too young to lead. We have to continue supporting ourselves as young people. Youth inclusion is not a favour, it’s a necessity. We need to strategise as young people, just like the elders.