The World Youth Democracy Day celebrated every 18th October affords young leaders like me, great opportunities to showcase and tell the world, roles we have played in encouraging and sustaining democracy participation in our various communities. It is important to state that a lot of man- made factors is working against the youths in their desire to effectively participate in democratic exercises within our communities. The following paragraphs details how those factors affect young people’s aspirations for democratic participation and contributions. Subsequent paragraphs explain some of the tools and strategies innovatively adopted by the youths to overcome those factors militating against their contribution in democracy and also explain differences that their efforts have made so far.
Young people, who are leaders of tomorrow and remain the treasured resource of most emerging nations, almost always find themselves deprived and denied opportunities to contribute meaningfully to democracy and even run for elective positions. Young people are stampeded out of election campaigns and are literally chased out of elections with “money-power” brought into the election game by the political heavy weights and wealthy adults of our communities. In fact, elections are termed “Do or Die Affair”.
It is painful to state that the older generation feel that young people are inexperienced and lack the ability and skills to make crucial decisions when matters of national importance arise.
Furthermore, policies and programs of our governments in relation to not only democratic participation but also general welfare of young people were designed and developed without incorporating the ideas and yearnings of our youths. The programs which are certainly not youth oriented are thereafter implemented without recourse to the welfare of our youths and children. Any attempt to ask questions in relations to those policies and programs were shunned and dealt with. In fact, it was better to keep to oneself and flow with the tide or join their bandwagon and perpetuate crime with reckless abandon.
In addition, instead of mentoring young people and teaching them the basics of democracy and leadership, with practical experience, they are asked to wait for their “time” to come. That “time” unfortunately, has never come. These youths are rather recruited as thugs and armed to the teeth to carry out various forms of nefarious activities assassinations, killing, kidnappings, bombings and terrorisms before, during and after elections. Therefore, the end results were distaste for democracy participation and disloyalty to democratic rules, obligations and regulations. Examples of such instances abound in Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, Somalia and Ivory Coast. The amount of lives and properties lost in those incidences remain unquantifiable and the national economy bears the brunt of the whole mess.
However, the youth is blessed and built with the “never say die” spirit! In spite and in the face of all these discouraging circumstances and disadvantages in front of our desires, the youth have made so many strides to participate fully and fruitfully in democracy. The youth has resisted, fought back and remained a formidable force to reckon with in various democratic exercises. Various tools and strategies have also been innovatively designed and used to get young people interested and aware of various ways they can meaningfully make contributions and participate in democracy. Some of these tools and strategies include but are not limited to new media and social networking, community youth clubs and discussion groups, youth mentoring youth projects and competitions etc.
It is no longer news that new media and information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as web pages and social networking sites have permeated our everyday life. Owing to that consciousness, youth mentors have innovatively used these tools to provide online real-time information about democracy issues and development in our various societies. New media and information and communication technology (ICT) have also been used to engender communication and across the border exchange of ideas about several democratic practices and developments around the world. Various politicians have found that the internet is a veritable means of announcing the presence and political interest to the teeming youths of our communities.
For instance, in other to garner the support of young people who are of the age to vote and are web savvy, Nigeria’s president first declared his interest to contest again for the presidency on facebook; a social networking site on the internet! This singular act endeared him to thousands of Nigerian youths all over the world who has since been showering encomiums on his achievements since assuming office. Other aspiring politicians have taking to churning out websites and others to make their presence known to the public. Hence, new media and ICT are serving a great deal and purpose in reaching out to young people all over the places, there by strengthening democratic participation and community organizing.
Secondly, community youth clubs and discussion groups have developed into forums where young people continually thrash democracy table-burning issues in our communities. This is done so as to proffer practical solutions to challenging democratic developments in our communities and nations. The “Yes Youth Can” foundation and Young Stars Foundation are examples of groups that have continually promoted democratic participation of young people and community organizing. Very hot and juicy democracy topics and other related topics are designed and made available for young people to contribute and say their minds about how best they think that the issues raised can be tackled.
You can't believe it, our ideas and thoughts on the way forward, always seemed to have been communicated to the decision makers. We see those solutions we proffered in our little enclosure become implemented in our country’s democratic institutions and practices.
Furthermore, young people have embarked on nominating and totally supporting consensus candidates for elections. This innovative idea is birthed owing to the fact that young people make up a reasonable percentage of the voting populace. The youth found out that they can participate actively and make appreciable impact in democracy and community organizing if they can have one of their own in various elective positions. Since democracy is a game of numbers, young team up and practically wrestle political seats in favour of their own man. Recent result of this exercise include the emergence of Governor of Edo State of Nigeria; Comrade Adams Oshiomole. Though he was not supported by old political elites, young people ensured that he won and reclaimed his victory in the governorship elections subsequent court case.
Another strategy adopted is youth mentoring youth. This is a situation where experienced young people organize and bring other young people together, teaching and showing them practical ways to engage in democracy activities and community organizing. These youth mentors are people who have succeeded in making a democratic mark and have excelled in their various communities. Some of the practices that characterize such activities include scholarships to impoverished youths and children, organization of essays and quiz competitions as well as games for young people to exercise their spirit, soul and body. These exercises have greatly contributed in sensitizing young people about opportunities that abound for them to engage themselves actively in democracy and community organizing.
In conclusion, if the youth is a treasured resource of our society, I strongly advocate that he is involved in the formulation and implementation of policies that affect not just democracy but every aspect of our national lives. Young people are the leaders of tomorrow and thus ought to be giving opportunities to actively participate in democracy and community organizing. It is key and very vital for a better world tomorrow. Yes Youth Can!!!
