With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, a powerful movement led by Nigeria's youth population is gathering momentum. Their central demand is clear: secure at least fifty per cent of legislative seats at both the national and state levels.
A Unified Push for Political Inclusion
The campaign, spearheaded by the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF), was officially launched in Abuja. The YIPF is an initiative of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth in Parliament. The group unveiled its Take Action Campaign (TAC) 2025, a nationwide programme that uniquely blends political mobilisation with large-scale skills development.
The Director-General of YIPF, Hon. Tony Nwulu, a former lawmaker and sponsor of the historic Not Too Young To Run Act, expressed deep concern over the current state of youth representation. He revealed that the Forum is actively engaging the youth wings of all registered political parties to present a unified front. Their goal is to demand greater youth inclusion in party leadership, candidate selection processes, and ultimately, elective offices ahead of the 2027 polls.
"In the Senate today, we have just one young person. That reality alone tells you how far we are from inclusion," Nwulu stated. He warned that decisions impacting millions of young Nigerians are being made without their direct input, urging that they can no longer afford to be mere spectators in a system that shapes their future.
Beyond Slogans: Skills Development for 1.1 Million
The Take Action Campaign is designed to translate youth engagement from political slogans into measurable, tangible outcomes. It directly links governance participation with economic empowerment and enhanced employability.
The programme has an ambitious skills development component with a target of 1.1 million beneficiaries. The breakdown is as follows:
- One million youths will receive training in high-demand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.
- An additional 100,000 youths will be trained in Electric Vehicle (EV) technology.
The ICT curriculum will cover critical areas such as:
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
- Data protection, privacy, and governance
- Data analytics
- Cloud computing
The EV training will equip participants with knowledge in diagnostics, battery systems, safety protocols, servicing, and emerging mobility technologies, aligning with Nigeria's growing interest in sustainable transportation.
Decentralised Implementation for National Reach
To ensure nationwide impact, the programme's implementation will be decentralised. The 20,000 ICT training slots allocated to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be accessible to indigenes or residents through state-based application platforms.
Further distribution includes:
- 20,000 slots for each of the six geopolitical zones through Zonal Development Commissions.
- 5,000 slots allocated to each of the 19 registered political parties, totalling 95,000 slots.
- A dedicated 45,000 slots have been reserved to promote inclusion for persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Hon. Tony Nwulu emphasised that participation in the Take Action Campaign is completely free. He called on all young Nigerians, especially those who feel sidelined from political and economic opportunities, to seize this chance and apply through the official platforms.
This movement marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria's political landscape, as the nation's largest demographic prepares to actively claim its rightful space in the halls of power.
