Lawmakers assure young people that their opinions helped shape amendments to the constitution

The House of Representatives is calling on young Nigerians to take an active role in shaping the outcome of the 2027 general elections by participating fully in the electoral process, as the country's democratic future largely depends on their choices and civic engagement.

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The call was made during the Youth Town Hall, a flagship event of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday.

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The forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including lawmakers, senior government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, youth leaders, and students, to discuss key issues such as youth inclusion in governance, democratic accountability, and nation-building.

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Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, the House Majority Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, emphasized that the 10th House has made a deliberate effort to prioritize youth development and inclusion in its legislative agenda.

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According to Ihonvbere, the Youth Town Hall has evolved into a platform that enables young Nigerians to contribute directly to national policymaking and legislative reforms, with recommendations from previous editions influencing constitutional amendment proposals and national policies currently before the National Assembly.

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Ihonvbere noted that many of the ideas reflected in the ongoing constitutional amendment proposals and national policies were shaped by contributions made during previous editions of the Town Hall, highlighting the significance of the platform in giving young Nigerians a voice in shaping the country's future.

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With the 2027 elections approaching, the House Majority Leader described young Nigerians as the country's largest voting bloc and a critical force in determining the credibility of future elections, emphasizing that the quality of elections and the future of democracy will be largely determined by their choices and active involvement.

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The House remains committed to ensuring that young Nigerians become active partners in governance, rather than passive recipients of government policies, Ihonvbere said, highlighting several youth-focused legislative initiatives undertaken by the 10th House.

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These initiatives include the passage of the National Youth Service Corps Reform Bill, the proposed Nigerian Youth Welfare Scheme Fund Bill sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and a constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for governorship candidates from 35 to 30 years.

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Ihonvbere also cited reforms in education financing, taxation, electricity, cybersecurity, and the digital economy, describing them as measures designed to expand opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation among young Nigerians.

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Delivering a goodwill message, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, commended the National Assembly for institutionalizing the Youth Town Hall as a platform for direct engagement between lawmakers and young people, emphasizing the importance of giving young Nigerians a space to speak and participate in decisions that affect their future.

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Olawande noted that the Federal Government is implementing programmes aimed at improving youth participation in governance, while expanding access to entrepreneurship support, vocational training, digital skills, and affordable financing, citing the Nigerian Youth Academy, digital skills initiatives, and the proposed Youth Green Fund as examples of these interventions.

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Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu, challenged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence as tools for economic transformation, noting that countries that invest in innovation will remain competitive in the global economy.

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Halilu urged young Nigerians to continuously improve their skills and develop practical solutions to national development challenges, highlighting NASENI's Innovate Nigeria programme, which provides grants of up to ₦250m to support innovators, inventors, and technology-driven businesses.

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The Youth Town Hall is part of the National Assembly Open Week, an initiative aimed at deepening public engagement with the legislature, improving transparency, and providing citizens with opportunities to contribute to lawmaking and governance.

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Over the years, the forum has become one of the legislature's principal platforms for engaging young Nigerians on policy, constitutional reform, and democratic participation, providing a unique opportunity for young people to shape the country's future.