By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, April 10, 2026
The Progressive Abia Youths, an NGO, has called for stronger participation of Nigerian youths in governance, policy formulation and national development, saying such engagement is critical to securing the country’s future.
The President of Progressive Abia Youths, Mr Daberechi Ekejiuba, made the call on Friday during a press conference on the sidelines of the organisation’s 5th anniversary celebration held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
Ekejiuba said that Nigerian youths must remain actively involved in governance and leadership processes, noting that young people are increasingly taking responsibility for shaping the future of the country.
He stressed the need for youths to deepen their participation in governance structures, influence policy direction and contribute meaningfully to community and national development.
According to him, young people remain central to national development discussions, adding that they are resilient and capable of overcoming challenges while driving positive change.
He explained that the organisation was established to bridge the gap between young people and government, ensuring greater inclusion of youths in decision-making processes.
Founded in 2021, Ekejiuba said that the organisation operates as a non-partisan platform aimed at empowering young people, deepening civic engagement and promoting participation in governance.
He noted that it seeks to address the exclusion of youths from key decision-making spaces by equipping them with knowledge of governance and policy analysis.
“We discovered that young people are often used during elections but are not fully involved in governance conversations and this organisation was formed to change that narrative,” he said.
Ekejiuba said that the group had recorded notable achievements since inception, including collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register 74,299 voters in Abia.
He added that the organisation also facilitated the distribution of over 200,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 2023.
According to him, 54 laptops were distributed to youths to enhance digital skills, while 17 young people were trained in tech-related fields such as product design, data analysis and product management.
He further disclosed that 34 youths were trained in policy analysis and civic engagement in 2024, noting that some beneficiaries have since contributed to advocacy efforts supporting government programmes, including the renovation of primary healthcare centres.
Ekejiuba said the organisation, in partnership with the Nigerian Youth Futures Fund and other donors, had continued to support youth empowerment initiatives despite funding challenges.
He noted that skepticism about youth-led movements remains a major challenge, as such groups are often mistaken for political structures.
The youth leader said the organisation would intensify civic education ahead of future elections through voter sensitisation and collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections across Nigeria.
He added that the group would continue to expand its programmes to other communities nationwide.
Ekejiuba urged young people to embrace entrepreneurship, agriculture and skills development rather than rely solely on white-collar jobs, stressing the need for youth-led job creation.
He also called for greater accountability in governance while urging governments at all levels to strengthen youth development policies and decentralise opportunities for wider impact.
“We must take responsibility for our society and not wait for government alone. Young people must be intentional about creating solutions,” he added.
