Presidential Precinct YALI 2015 Fellow Hosts Good Governance Town Hall, Partnering Precinct and Nigerian Youths in Motion

On June 4, 2015, Mandela Washington Fellow Timi Olagunju hosted  a brainstorming session on promoting good governance, democracy, and the youth agenda with youth leaders across South-West, Nigeria.

The Good Governance Town Hall meeting , according to Timi Olagunju,  was set up to bring together a network of young leaders, who see themselves as solution providers and a network of help on promoting good governance, democracy and the youth agenda. Timi further stated that the town hall is in the business of helping young leaders become actively involved in creating real value, and would desire to take the town hall round the country, so as to network young leaders for value creation. The Speakers were later introduced to the participants, immediately followed by the welcome address which was delivered by Neal Piper, Managing Director at the Presidential Precinct, Virginia and Douglas Smith, Vice President, Robert H. Smith, Centre for the Constitution, United States.

The first speaker was Akin Rotimi who focused the discussion on governmental involvement by the youth. He questioned what he termed ‘the youth agenda’. He raised a couple of questioned such as – what is the youth’s agenda in Nigeria; who speaks for the young people in the corporate world; and why are youths not properly represented in government especially as it concerns the stringent rules on marriage and childbirth. He further questioned the state of the student unions in the country, and stated that the politics and governance in Nigeria has been heavily monetized, or in other words, “money has done serious damage to the Nigerian Politics.”

Next, Dr. Tunde Oseni led the participants on civic leadership and youth development. He spoke extensively on Leadership, highlighting what leadership is, the context of leadership, the skills for leadership, and the attributes of a leader. He explained the distinction between equality and justice, and asked the participants, “as a civic leader, what are you supposed to stand for equality or justice”.  He concluded that if one’s actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do and become more, “you are a leader”.

Following him, Eyitayo Ogunmola, Co-Founder of TieNigeria and CampusGOV, described the work of ‘TieNigeria’, and called on the young leaders to be involved in politics. He concluded with “Until we stand out to lead in that political sphere, other people like us probably not as intelligent, will take it up and mess it up.”

Finally, Femi Malachi a transformation strategist and management consultant rounded off, by simplifying the concepts of responsibility, accountability, and appraisal, emphasizing that each concept is important for efficiency as a leader and social entrepreneur. He encouraged young leaders not to fold in the portfolios yet, but proceed from success to legacy.

After the speakers were finished, the participants were divided in two groups as the brainstorming session commenced so as to increase participation and effectiveness. The Brainstorming session lasted for 45 minutes. Issues were based on youth complacency, constitutional problems, youth reorientation process and lastly, the problems of equality and justice.  Out of the discussion birth an oasis of practical solutions to issues that plagues the upcoming generation in Nigeria.