The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Chibuzo Okereke, has promised to implement a comprehensive and far-reaching agenda for youth development and institutions reforms if elected as next Nigerian president.

He stated this when the leadership of the Forum of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN) paid him a visit in Abuja

The engagement is part of the forum’s Youth Dialogue Series with presidential candidates of all the political parties.

The forum brings together the leadership of a multi-party youth platform to engage presidential candidates on policies and aspirations the proposed administration would have for Nigeria’s youth.

According to Mr Okereke, Nigerian youth must not be regarded merely as instruments of political mobilisation during elections.

He said they should participate directly in the formulation of policies, development programmes, legislation and decisions that determine their present circumstances and prospects.

He promised that Nigeria would be governed with a clear vision under LP leadership, with young Nigerians positioned as drivers of governance and decision-making, rather than being confined to the margins of the political process.

“As a youth, indeed, anything for us without us is against us,” he said.

Mr Okereke  reiterated his “Nigerians First” vision, which he described as a governing philosophy anchored on placing the Nigerian people before politics.

He said his administration would be guided by the principle that government exists first and foremost to serve citizens and improve their quality of life, rather than to advance narrow political, personal or elite interests.

Mr Okereke  proposed the reform of the Children Parliament, linking early civic participation and leadership development to the broader objective of preparing young Nigerians for responsible citizenship

He said that leadership development must begin early and continue through structured institutions capable of cultivating civic consciousness, patriotism, responsibility and democratic values.

According to him,  significant part of  the ‘Okereke’s youth agenda’ focuses on access to finance.

He proposed the establishment of a National Youth and Students Innovation Development Bank, specifically designed to fund youth innovations, inventions and service ideas.

He said under this framework, promising ideas would be identified and supported through the integrated youth structure extending down to the community level.

He noted that the proposed institution would address one of the persistent barriers confronting young Nigerians: the inability to transform creative ideas and innovative concepts into viable enterprises because of inadequate access to capital.

Speaking at the engagement, Chairman of the Forum, Delaw Chukwu,  explained that the FNYLPPN embarked on the dialogue series as part of a deliberate strategy to engage presidential candidates across political parties.

He said such engagement was to understand their respective agendas for Nigerian youths.

According to him, the forum’s objective was not merely to listen to campaign promises but to strategically engage candidates on the challenges confronting young  Nigerians, interrogate their policy positions and seek answers to critical national questions.

Mr Chukwu disclosed that the forum comprises the youth leaders of 22 political parties, with a membership strength running into several thousand nationwide and a structure extending across the states, local government areas and wards.

He said the breadth of the forum’s membership gives it a significant national reach and places it in a position to facilitate meaningful conversations on the future of Nigeria’s youthful population.

(NAN)

JOSH/JPE