The Centre For Innovation and Research has advocated for the protection of young people and inclusion in governance as a panacea to sustainable peace and development in Nigeria.
Executive Director of the Centre and also Coordinator of West Africa Network for Peace Building in the North Central zone, Nathaniel Awuapila, noted that young people are citizens who do have roles to play and the rights to speak up.
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“They have the right to express their opinions about how they are governed and also have a right to be involved in governance.
“So for a segment of a population like that, they simply should have a voice. In addition to where they comprise the largest population of the society, their voice should be heard. It is important that they be involved in the governance process,” he said.
“So, if you don’t involve young people at the time they are young and growing and building experience, then you are going to have leaders who in their old age behave like children and will not be able to exercise the kind of leadership that those that are young at a time will be expecting of them
He said young people in Nigeria felt threatened and did not really feel safe and that was not good for the country.
“Young people have a lot they can offer; ideas expertise, innovative ways of going about things.
“But when they don’t feel safe to express themselves and when they speak and are perceived as anti-government, it’s not good for them, not good for our society, it’s not good for the country, it is not good for the world.’’
