2023: OCCEN urges youths to participate in politics, vie for elective positions

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Organisation for Community Civic Engagement of Nigeria (OCCEN) and National Endowment for Democracy have urged Nigerian youths and women to participate in politics and vie for elective positions in 2023 general elections.

The two organizations made the call during a panel discussion for inspiring the aspiring young politicians in Jigawa state, held at the Manpower Development Institute (MDI) in Dutse the state capital.

The executive director of OCCEN Comrade Abdurrazaq Alkali said “It is the right time for the Youths and women to fully come out to participate in politics and contest for elective positions as they are the majority when it comes to population”.

According to him, youths also are engines of development as well as the back bones of any community, therefore he said there is need for their inclusion in politics for a vibrant and better leadership in Jigawa and the country at large.

The director, said more than 70 percent of registered voters are youths while about 42 percent are women yet the youths and women are left out when it comes to allocation of political offices in Nigeria.

“OCCEN with support from National Endowment for Democracy realized the gaps of inadequate recognition of youths and women in politics.
“We therefore decided to embarked on massive sensitization for enlightenment of the youths to know their roles in politics for better participation” Alqali said.

He urged the participants to share the knowledge acquired during the discussion with their colleagues at the grassroots level for better participation in politics.

While making his remarks, one of the panel discussants Dr Mu’azu Abdullahi commended OCCEN for organising the event adding that youths have a better role to play in politics for better Nigeria.