Group urge youths to embrace active citizenship

A non-profit organisation, The I Am Nigeria initiative, in collaboration with Mezurashi Youthquake, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace active citizenship and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The call was made at an International Youth Day 2026 programme organised by the groups at Millennium Park, Abuja.

The event, tagged “Youth and the Nigerian Dream: From Responsibility to Participation,” focused on youth participation, patriotism, civic responsibility and nation-building.

The Founder of the “I Am Nigeria” project Mrs Ismah Ekpo-Alade, said the initiative was established to promote patriotism, national pride, hope and unity among Nigerians.

Ismah Ekpo-Alade described the “I Am Nigeria “ project as a national reawakening movement set up to remind citizens that building the country was a collective responsibility.

She said the initiative sought to restore confidence in Nigerians; particularly among young people, by encouraging them to see themselves as contributors to national development.

According to her, the future of the country should not be defined by despair but by determination, patriotism and collective action.

She said the collaboration with Mezurashi represented a partnership with a new generation of young Nigerians willing to contribute to the progress of the country.

Ekpo-Alade said the partnership, described as the “Mezurashi Youthquake” was committed to mobilising youths to become active participants in nation-building.

She said the initiative was also aimed at reminding Nigerians that national transformation could begin with individual action within their communities.

The founder urged young Nigerians to develop a renewed sense of ownership and responsibility towards the country.

She said every Nigerian had a role to play in building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the CEO of Mezurashi Youthquake, Mr Omar Oladeinde, the Programme Coordinator, Mr Favour Johnson, said youths were already contributing significantly to Nigeria’s development.

He said young Nigerians were building businesses, developing technology, creating jobs, producing music and films, designing fashion and developing communities.

“Tomorrow is taking too long. Young Nigerians are already leading today,” he said.

He noted that the perception of youths as leaders of tomorrow should give way to recognition of their present contribution and responsibilities.

Oladeinde urged youths to move beyond expressing patriotism during sporting events and other moments of national celebration.

“We cannot be passionate about Nigeria only when the Super Eagles are playing,” he said.

He said patriotism should translate into active participation in elections, community development, responsible citizenship and effort pto create value.

According to him, the “I Am Nigeria” philosophy means citizens must accept that the responsibility for Nigeria’s progress belongs to everyone.

“When something goes wrong in my community, I care. When leadership succeeds, I acknowledge it”.

He urged citizens to participate in elections and volunteer when their communities needed support.

The Mezurashi CEO also advised youths to verify information before sharing it, particularly in an era of widespread misinformation on social media.

He said rejecting violence, respecting differences and contributing positively to society were also important aspects of responsible citizenship.

Oladeinde said the partnership with the “I Am Nigeria “ movement was informed by the understanding that young people expressed themselves through culture, fashion, music, technology and creativity.

He said Mezurashi therefore sought to integrate civic responsibility into youth culture through creative platforms and initiatives.

He said this thinking gave birth to the campaign slogan, “Wear Your Vote”, designed to encourage conversations about civic participation.

“Not because a T-shirt can change Nigeria. It cannot. But the person inside that T-shirt can,” he said.

Oladeinde explained that the campaign was intended to remind young Nigerians that their votes, voices, conduct, creativity and participation which could influence the country’s future.

He stressed that voting alone could not build the Nigeria Nigerians desired, noting that nation-building happened through everyday actions.

According to him, nation-building occurs when entrepreneurs create value, students acquire skills and citizens contribute to improving their communities.

He also urged youths to reject violence and respect one another despite differences in ethnicity, religion, background and political affiliations.

Oladeinde said citizens should complement government responsibilities by becoming better and more responsible members of society.

He urged young Nigerians not to wait for political appointments before contributing to national development.

Start where you are. Show up. Stand up. Build up,” he added.

He explained that youths could begin by serving their communities, standing responsibly for what was right and developing their skills, businesses and ideas.

He said the Nigerian Dream would only materialize through the collective effort of citizens.

“The Nigerian Dream will not arrive one morning as a government announcement. We will build it”.

He said the process would require responsible citizens, strong communities, innovation and active participation in democratic processes.

He urged young Nigerians to ensure that their generation would be remembered for participating, creating, questioning, voting, serving and building.

He further expressed appreciation to the “I Am Nigeria” Initiative, partners, media organisations and young Nigerians supporting the initiative.

He urged youths to embrace unity and work collectively toward building a Nigeria where every citizen could contribute meaningfully to national development.

The event formed part of activities commemorating the International Youth Day celebrated annually in August to promote awareness of issues affecting young people.

It also provided a platform for stakeholders and young Nigerians to discuss their responsibilities and participation in shaping Nigeria’s future.