NYCN Declares 2025 'Year of Youth Prosperity' with Focus on Governance

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has officially declared 2025 as the 'Year of Youth Prosperity,' launching a nationwide campaign to increase youth participation in politics and governance. Citing the success of the 'Not Too Young To Run' movement, the council is now pivoting from advocacy to action, encouraging young professionals to register as card-carrying members of political parties and vie for party leadership positions.

The campaign targets 5 million new youth voters and aims to mentor 1,000 young candidates for local government elections. Organizers believe that the only way to change the political narrative is to have a seat at the table where decisions are made. Social media continues to be a potent tool for mobilization, with hashtags like #YouthDecide2025 trending across platforms.

Demanding Accountability

Beyond elections, youth groups are forming 'shadow cabinets' in various states to track government performance and budget implementation. This rise in civic consciousness is forcing established politicians to engage more meaningfully with the youth electorate, moving beyond tokenism to address substantive issues like unemployment, digital literacy, and startup capital.