Today (August 12) is International Youth day. Young Activists of the world are using this opportunity to highlight the campaigns and movements that have shaped the past year.

The theme for this year is Youth Civic engagement; it shows how young people are campaigning on social issues that matter to them. It also encourages others to get involved. The lack of youth participation in important decisions is detrimental to a country, Nigerian Youth must aid the CHANGE process (Being an Advocate for CHANGE does not make you an APC member).

Youth all over the world have recognised the power they hold to influence the ballot box. Over the past Decade, electoral outcomes in [Nigeria, Afghanistan, Kenya, India, South Africa, Malaysia etc.] were Won or lost depending on Youth support. Yet Youth perception surveys [2015) reveal that youth still feel ‘Unable to shape their own trajectories, excluded from decision making and believe their voices remain unheard in the larger political and social dialog’. There have been positive steps for youth participation, social media and communications technologies provide a space for social and political expression but, this does not necessarily translate into any meaningful influence or genuine power over decisions.

This day serves as a reminder for young people in Nigeria who are often relegated to the sidelines and excluded from having a say in decisions that affect us. YAC will continuously work to do what we can to empower YOUTH.