Stakeholders and democracy advocates have called on young people across West Africa to take a more active role in governance and stop remaining on the sidelines of political processes, warning that their continued exclusion is weakening democratic systems and deepening frustration among the youth population.
The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the Next Gen Initiative West Africa Youth Regional Symposium 2026, where participants expressed concern over rising youth marginalisation and growing disconnection from political decision-making across the sub-region.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria Country Director of the National Democratic Institute, Francis Madugu, encouraged young people to engage more deliberately in politics and governance, noting that political influence is earned through participation and sustained involvement.
Madugu argued that historical African leaders achieved power through active engagement rather than passivity, insisting that today’s youths must adopt similar strategies to gain political relevance.
He urged young people to embrace civic education, advocacy, and strategic participation, stressing that awareness and involvement remain key tools for influencing policy and leadership outcomes.
According to him, criticism without engagement limits impact, adding that democratic systems reward participation.
Also speaking, Coordinator of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network, Paul Osei-Kuffour, said many young people across the region are becoming increasingly disillusioned with democracy due to persistent exclusion, poverty, corruption, and lack of opportunities after graduation.
He noted that these challenges are pushing many youths away from civic participation, calling for stronger frameworks to encourage sustained youth engagement in governance and accountability processes.
Osei-Kuffour also advocated for stronger cross-border cooperation among young people in West Africa, saying regional collaboration is necessary to strengthen democratic advocacy and reform efforts.
He added that the outcomes of the symposium would be documented to build a network of youth engagement across all 15 West African countries.
A panel discussion featuring Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Dr. Chris Fomunyoh, and Ms. Vera Addo further examined the root causes of youth frustration, including economic hardship, corruption, and exclusion from key governance decisions.
The panelists observed that many political systems in Africa remain disconnected from citizens’ realities, prioritising elections over meaningful development and service delivery.
They noted that youth scepticism should be viewed as political awareness rather than apathy, urging young people to channel their concerns into structured civic action.
According to them, effective engagement requires understanding how different institutions function and applying targeted strategies to influence them.
They further called for sustained regional solidarity, digital activism, and continuous youth presence in leadership spaces to drive reform.
The symposium ended with renewed calls for young Africans to strengthen their participation in governance, build alliances across borders, and take active roles in shaping the continent’s democratic future.