UK worries over low youth, women participation in Nigeria’s politics

The British government has expressed worry over low participation of young people, especially women, in Nigerian politics.

This is just as it reiterated its commitment to supporting the country in ensuring transparent and credible polls in 2023.

Dr Christopher Pycroft, the development director at the British High Commission in Nigeria, spoke Tuesday in Kano during the opening session of “Convergence 4.0”, a capacity-building workshop organised by Yiaga Africa and the Not Too Young To Run movement for young political aspirants.

He insisted that the involvement of the young generation is crucial to building a stable and peaceful nation.

He said an increase of elected officials from 5.1 per cent in 2015 to 6.6 per cent in 2019 signalled a modest performance, but that the trend could be accelerated given necessary atmosphere.

“But young people are too often excluded from Nigeria’s political processes; left without a voice without influence. But this is now starting to change – and we are starting to see the influence as social media transform the political processes in ways we are yet to fully understand,” he said.