Thread by @JudeFeranmi

Hello @ynagNG

Thanks for having me today.

I apologize for having to postpone this session for two hours.

It was due to circumstances beyond my control.

Let’s start with Youth Inclusion and it’s definition

#YnagOsogbo

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There has been a wave of demands and activism in demanding that there is more inclusiveness for Minority groups in the politics of our continent especially in Nigeria

I think it’s important to define what we mean when we say we want inclusiveness

#YnagOsogbo

This is because a lot of people (including young people) have misunderstood (for various reasons) what we say we want and misconstrued it for #YouthTakeOver

They are two different things.

#YnagOsogbo

When we say we want Youth Inclusiveness, What we mean is that we want young people to be a part of the political leadership process of our society.

As things stand today, that is not happening!

#YnagOsogbo

This is also different from when we say we want #YouthParticipation

Participation is a broad term

Youths have been snatching ballot boxes since 1999, youths have been serving as adhoc staff for INEC for a while now, youths have been leading campaign strategies ...

#YnagOsogbo

... that’s participation to a reasonable extent

When we ask for youth inclusiveness, what we ask for is that young people to be a part of the political leadership process

Any system that neglects the next generation in the scheme of things is an unsustainable system
#YnagOsogbo

As a nation, our polity has largely been an exclusive system - as an exclusive preserve of a particular set of people who at a time were young (‘66) and who are now old (since ‘99)

This exclusive system does not work for ALL of us

#YnagOsogbo

So largely, the focus of my ideas this evening is on youth inclusiveness in partisan political leadership

But before I share my opinion on strategies to deepen youth inclusiveness in partisan political leadership, a couple of people/organizations deserve mention
#YnagOsogbo

with the input of a lot of young people has done great work in pushing for the #NotTooYoungToRunBill which having been passed by the National and state Assemblies is now awaiting the assent of the President.

I believe this is the most important piece ...

#YnagOsogbo

... of legislation of our epoch.

It is great work that @KOWA_NGR was proud to support through the youth wing @KOWA_NYC and one of the foremost strategies for achieving youth inclusiveness in partisan politics.

I am hoping that after assent has been gotten for the #NotTooYoungToRunBill, maybe @YIAGA or any other organization can lead another bill that caps the age of certain positions e.g councillorship or local government chairpersons

#YnagOsogbo

How do we bring in more young people into partisan political leadership?

Here are a few ideas I have on strategy.

1. We have to continue to demand that the laws of our land are first and foremost inclusive

Asides the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, there’s the ICPC Act

#YnagOsogbo

The board of the ICPC when appointed according to the law must compulsorily have a member below the age of 30 years.

There’s the #YesWeCan bill that wants at least a Minister below 35 years

These laws must be passed and enforced

#YnagOsogbo

Some organizations are already focused on this so I won’t go deep into that.

2. Demystifying Partisan Politics

This one of the ways we can drive inclusiveness especially in political parties. There are various mystical and mythical narratives that have to be ended

#YnagOsogbo

This mystification of partisan politics is intentional and it is what drives away a lot of the talented, competent members of our demography.

Politics as done by some parties (violent, fetish, un-ideological, visionless) is NOT the only way that politics CAN be done

#YnagOsogbo

This simplifying and demystifying partisan politics is a project that some other organizations can take up like @BudgITng has taken up the budget simplification process

#YnagOsogbo

3. Engaging Technology

In a 21st century world enables by technology, we cannot ask that young people come back to the past when it comes to politics and remain in the present when it comes to every other thing.

Political Parties and Government have to keep the pace with tech

Without a shift of approach to include technology as a core enabler, driving youth inclusiveness in partisan politics is going to only attract in the large numbers that we want, the kinds of young people that are still living in the analogue world.

#YnagOsogbo

4. Amplifying Success Stories

The wave of independence in colonized Africa in the sixties can not be divorced from the success stories of Ghana Nigeria and a few others who started the wave.

While we must continue to strive for inclusiveness, we must amplify our successes

for example is the National Publicity Secretary of the Modern Democratic Party

@kunlaylawal - though no longer a youth but still young, is National Publicity Secretary of KOWA PARTY

We have to keep pushing these stories to inspire others.

#YnagOsogbo

Success is the mother of success. The more success stories we have, the more successes will be born.

This multiplier effect has to resonate.

As an aside, this effect is why we have cybercrime as an established institution today -perfect role models that are seen

#YnagOsogbo

On this four strategies, @KOWA_NGR has done tremendously well and is taking the lead.

This is also largely because the National Executive Committee comprises of >50% of members under 50 years.

Average age is actually 35.5

#YnagOsogbo

1. On the Laws, It is on record that @KOWA_NYC is the first party to have openly supported the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill

2. On Demystifying Politics, @KOWA_NGR continues to open its doors to young people to take leadership and experience politics

#YnagOsogbo

3. On technology, @KOWA_NGR will be the first political party to adopt direct primaries and conduct using blockchain technology on web (apps) and non web (USSD) platforms in the forthcoming 2019 elections - built again by young Nigerians

4. On amplifying success stories, @KOWA_NGR has continued to have its young leaders represent the party and showcase the possibilities of what can happen when young people lead, in spite of the errors, mistakes and lessons that have to be learnt in the process.

#YnagOsogbo

I believe that more young people can come together and do great stuff and take leadership in Nigeria if we continue to engage these strategies for the betterment of our nation.

One more thing I must address though - this idea that our generation feels entitled

#YnagOsogbo

The generation of leaders (failed leaders I must say) who say our generation feels entitled, who say power is not served a la carte, who have perpetuated themselves in office since ‘66 .. forget that they took power through the bullet

They ask us to take power through the ballot

So Plot Twist!

If we go back a couple of years back to the sixties with this same population and this same set of failed leaders and this same set of young people in our demography, our generation would have take power through the bullet like they did

But the times have changed

I think this is a comfortable place to end this thread

Together, we can!

Kindly unroll.