At the just-concluded Senate Public Hearing on Constitutional Amendment, a new wave of civic leadership emerged as young Nigerians, mobilized under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA II) Project, stepped forward with a clear message: We are not just asking for change, we are shaping it.
Backed by ActionAid Nigeria and supported by South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), the youth delegation submitted a powerful memo outlining their demands for a more inclusive, equitable, and participatory Nigeria.
Youth-Led Memo, Nation-Shaping Vision
The memo, which was formally presented during the hearing, calls for five key reforms that reflect the aspirations of Nigeria’s rising generation:
- Free Basic Education & Social Security: As a right, not a privilege, ensuring that no child is left behind.
- Diaspora Voting: Because every Nigerian voice, no matter where it resides, should count.
- Independent Candidacy: To open the political space beyond party structures.
- Youth Development Fund: A national mechanism to support the skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship of young people.
- Inclusive Representation: 35% quota for women and 30% for youth in all political appointments and elective offices.
These demands were not abstract ideals. They were built on community consultations, data, and lived experiences, brought to the table by youth who understand what is at stake.
SSDO and ActionAid: Strengthening Youth Advocacy
At SSDO, we are proud to partner with ActionAid Nigeria to strengthen youth advocacy platforms that go beyond protest to policy. The SPA II project is designed to amplify grassroots voices, build civic capacity, and ensure that governance is not something done to young people, but done with and by them.
As the constitutional review process continues, SSDO will keep working alongside young leaders to ensure that these voices do not fade after the hearing. The memo has been submitted, but the movement is just beginning.
This is youth-led advocacy. This is what democracy looks like.
