A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and Convener of the Youths and Women in Politics Sensitisation programme, Farmer Omolara Svensson Busari, has called on Nigerian youth to actively participate in politics and use it as a tool to achieve the change they desire.

Busari made the call while addressing hundreds of APC youths in Egbeda Constituency 2 at the weekend during a youth sensitisation programme held at the Egbeda APC Secretariat, Ibadan.

The event, tagged “Youth in Politics Sensitisation 2.0,” is the second in the series and the fifth of a broader programme aimed at encouraging youth and women to engage in politics.

The programme, themed “Understanding Our Role in Active Politics,” was designed to train and empower young people, strengthen democracy, break barriers, build leaders, and balance power by equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence needed to drive democratic change from the grassroots to the national level.

Delivering her keynote address titled *“Seeds of Change: Young Nigerians and the Future of Democracy,”* Busari urged the youth to stop seeing politics as a distant affair and instead view it as a practical tool for changing their everyday lives.

“Start local—school boards, market unions, ward councils—then move up. Train, mentor, fund, protect, and hold elected officials accountable,” she said.

Busari encouraged the youth to embrace mentorship, remain confident, and not be intimidated by political thugs.
She emphasized the importance of re-orienting young people to set clear priorities, embrace mentorship opportunities, and reject all forms of political violence.

According to her, the programme has already started yielding results by helping participants understand their identity, value, and role in politics.

She further charged the youth to be intentional about self-discovery, continuous learning, and finding credible mentors with proven track records.

“Be intentional about being part of decision-making in the country. Once you discover yourself, you will understand why you have an important role to play in active politics,” she added.

Speaking on the theme, guest speaker Bashorun Biliaminu Ogundele stressed that Nigeria needs vibrant youth at the helm of affairs to inject innovation into governance.

“We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect different results,” he said, urging youths to mobilize themselves at the ward and constituency levels and encourage others to participate in the political process.

The Elegbeda of Egbeda, Alhaji Soara Sule, described the initiative as the first of its kind in the area and commended Busari for the effort.

He urged youths to take responsibility for the progress of their community by being actively involved in politics.

Also speaking, the APC Youth Leader of Egbeda Local Government, Hon. Lateef Abiodun, and the Youth Leader of Ward 8, Adewole Elijah, described the programme as liberating, noting that it has already begun inspiring a cultural shift among youths in the area.