…Calls For Bold Action, Rejects Passive Engagement
Daud Olatunji
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ondo State, Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, has charged Nigerian youths to convert their ideas into impactful innovations capable of driving sustainable governance and national development.
Agboke gave the charge on Friday, while presenting a paper titled “Ideas to Impact: Harnessing Youth-Driven Innovations for Sustainable Governance and National Development” at a leadership and empowerment summit organised by the Students’ Union of the University of Ilorin.
He warned that Nigeria’s growing youth population could either become a catalyst for transformation or a trigger for instability if not properly harnessed.
“Nigeria’s demographic reality presents a defining moment,” he said.
“This generation has the potential to serve as a powerful engine of innovation and economic transformation, but if left without purposeful engagement, it could become a source of systemic instability.”
Highlighting the country’s demographic structure, Agboke noted that about 60 per cent of Nigerians are under the age of 25, describing it as a “demographic dividend” that remains largely underutilised.
“Youth unemployment stands at over 33 per cent,” he said.
“This, combined with underemployment and brain drain, reflects our failure to convert demographic advantage into development outcomes.”
He stressed that innovation remains the most viable pathway to reversing the trend, declaring that ideas without impact are meaningless.
“Any idea conceived without significant and impactful influence is as useless as the most useless entity in human activities,” he said.
“A well-thought-out idea must drive young people toward innovations that better the lives of others and the nation.”
Agboke noted that Nigerian youths are already making inroads in governance through civic technology and digital advocacy, particularly in promoting transparency and accountability.
“Young Nigerians are at the forefront of civic innovation,” he said.
“They are building platforms that make government data accessible, track public projects and demand accountability from elected officials.”
He further linked youth advocacy to recent electoral reforms, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Results Viewing Portal.
“These innovations reflect the cumulative impact of youth-driven advocacy for transparent electoral systems,” he said, while acknowledging lingering challenges in the electoral process.
