Transforming Nigeria through Civic Education, Youth Empowerment

Nigeria faces a critical juncture, marked by eroding values, insecurity, and injustice. In response, the League for Social Justice (LSJ), a non-partisan civic organization, emphasizes the urgent need for youth reorientation through civic education and empowerment. The group believes this approach is key to restoring patriotism and securing the nation's future.

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The future of the nation depends not only on what students study, but also on the values they carry beyond graduation.

Dr. Labode Obanor, President of LSJ, highlighted that the nation's future hinges not just on academic knowledge but on the values instilled in its youth. He lamented the long-term neglect of young people, which he says has driven them toward "unscrupulous societal activities" and a general apathy towards their rights. Obanor stressed that youth should be central to societal transformation, with educational institutions serving as hubs for cultivating socially conscious leaders.

Obanor advocates for empowering students early, arguing it's a more effective path to responsible leadership than waiting for them to enter politics or the workforce. LSJ's 'Project Arise' targets primary and secondary school pupils, focusing on educational support and embedding values of responsibility and community service. This initiative has reportedly shown "remarkable impact" in Lagos, Edo, and parts of the Midwest.

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Apathy is another problem we have in this country. People get so relaxed and get so used to injustice that we just laugh about it and move on.

For higher education institutions, LSJ launched the 'Voice of Justice' initiative, which recently began at the University of Lagos, empowering approximately 700 students. This program aims to amplify young voices, equip them with leadership skills, prepare them for society, and foster national loyalty over tribal affiliations. Obanor noted that excessive ethnocentrism has fueled tribalism and national division, while also educating youth on their legal rights and the importance of challenging injustice rather than becoming numb to it.

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Part of the things that have divided us as a nation is that we are more ethnocentric rather than nationalistic, and the division is what caused our problem of tribalism today.