By Capt. Bishop C. Johnson (U.S. Army, Retired)
Nigeria is sitting on a demographic powder keg. With over 70% of its population under the age of 35, the country’s future will be defined—either uplifted or undone—by how it treats its youth today.
We are fast becoming the world’s third most populous country, projected to hit 400 million by 2050. This youth bulge could be a game-changing asset in global economics and politics, or it could tip Nigeria into prolonged crisis if mismanaged. The signs, so far, are troubling.
*Legal Reform, Little Power*
When the Not Too Young to Run Act was passed in 2018, it was widely celebrated as a progressive step toward youth inclusion in governance. But the law, while removing age-based barriers, didn’t remove the financial and structural ones.
The 2023 general election saw a dip in youth candidacy. Only 28.6% of candidates were between 25 and 40, down from 34.2% in 2019. Many young aspirants are still priced out by exorbitant nomination fees or blocked by entrenched political elites. Only a few broke through—largely in fringe parties or through independent civic momentum like that surrounding the Peter Obi campaign.
That movement, powered by a frustrated youth base and first-time voters, signaled a political awakening. Yet, it collided with logistical failures and voter suppression. Voter turnout plunged to 26.7%, the lowest in Nigeria’s post-1999 democratic history.
*From Protest to Policy*
The 2020 #EndSARS protests were another flashpoint in youth political consciousness. It was a rare, decentralized movement that shook the foundations of Nigeria’s policing and governance culture. But what began as a clarion call for justice was met with brutality, and in the aftermath, no serious institutional reform followed.
#EndSARS left a powerful legacy: increased youth voter registration, digital organizing, and civic awareness. But we are still struggling to translate protest into sustainable power. There is a gap between energy on the streets and influence in parliament.
*Employment: Nigeria’s Silent Emergency*
Unemployment among young Nigerians remains dire. The most recent National Bureau of Statistics data places youth unemployment at 6.5%, but this figure is widely contested as it excludes many in informal, precarious, or underemployed roles. A more telling indicator: over 14.4% of youth are NEET—not in education, employment, or training.
Many young Nigerians work jobs that offer no future. The informal sector dominates. Talent is wasted. And frustration grows.
Government programs like N-Power and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative are steps in the right direction, but they are fragmented and underfunded. Worse, many are deployed as patronage schemes rather than serious economic policy.
*From Demography to Destiny: What Must Be Done*
We are running out of time. Nigeria must treat youth inclusion as a survival strategy, not a slogan. That requires:
- Youth-First Political Reforms
Enforce youth quotas in political party tickets.
Slash nomination fees for candidates under 40.
Mandate that at least one-third of appointed cabinet positions at federal and state levels be reserved for qualified youth.
- Institutional Overhaul
Strengthen INEC’s youth engagement and civic education mandate.
Invest in secure digital voting to enfranchise tech-savvy youth.
Reform NYSC into a pipeline for governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Job Creation with Vision
Consolidate youth employment programs into a national strategy.
Expand investment in digital, creative, green, and agro-based industries.
Partner with private sector and diaspora to fund youth-led ventures.
- Empower Youth Movements
Encourage the transition of protest movements into civic platforms and political parties.
Offer legal, financial, and media support for youth-focused civil society initiatives.
*The Stakes Are Existential*
Nigeria’s youth are not just the future; they are the present. They are the workforce, the voters, the innovators, and the voices on our streets. Ignoring them is not just unjust—it’s dangerous.
A generation denied opportunity will not remain silent forever. We can either invest in inclusion now or pay the price of exclusion later—in insecurity, instability, and lost decades.
The good news? Young Nigerians have not given up. They are still organizing, innovating, and demanding change. But they need allies in government, support from civil society, and reform from institutions.
If we fail to empower them, Nigeria’s youth bulge could become a demographic curse. But if we rise to the challenge, it could be our greatest national blessing.
About the Author:
Capt. Bishop C. Johnson (U.S. Army, Retired) is a political analyst, national security expert, youth advocate, public policy analyst, researcher,
and grassroots activist based in Egbema, Imo State. He writes on democracy, governance, and civil-military relations in Nigeria.
Email: b.chuck.johnson@gmail.com
Phone: 07016616629
