She said: “After identifying a gap in our ARTvocacy Movement model, which encourages youths to use their creative talents to speak out against injustice, the Street Project team was selected for a capacity-building programme called Demo Reset, designed by Extituto, a Colombian organisation, that patented Legislative Theatre, a unique method for empowering communities to engage in policy-making through storytelling and performance.”
Ezenwa-Okoro further explained that Legislative Theatre would harness the power of participatory theatre to develop innovative policy solutions.
She also said that as part of the Demo Reset programme, the Street Project team recently organised a Youth Legislative Theatre Laboratory in Kosofe Local Council of Lagos. “This pioneering initiative brought together youths, policymakers, artists, and international collaborators to address pressing issues such as unemployment, political thuggery, and social inequality,” Ezenwa-Okoro said.
“Many shared personal stories of frustration and lost opportunities, revealing how joblessness has driven some into crime and political violence,” Rita Ezenwa-Okoro explained.
She revealed, “Legislative Theatre is not just about performance; it is therapeutic and a catalyst for advocacy. It shows that storytelling can inspire systemic change, enabling youth to debate policies and explore new perspectives. This builds a foundation for real and impactful policy change.”
As the momentum for change builds, Ezenwa-Okoro stated that “We are not merely discussing change; we are taking co-creative action. This is a unique opportunity to integrate Legislative Theatre into the ARTvocacy movement model for social change. The youth of Kosofe are demonstrating that art and democracy can work hand-in-hand to rebuild our communities through Legislative Theatre.”
She further commended local officials for their active participation in the Legislative Theatre laboratory, among whom were: Councillor for Orile-Oworo Ward B, Prince Kehinde Saliu, Prince Kehinde Saliu; Peoples Assembly Coordinator for YIAGA Africa, Kosofe, Mr. Philip Iwok; Impact and Policy Lead at ElectHer, Ms. Victoria Oletu and President of the Kosofe Youth Movement, Prince Kehinde Omotehinse.
On her part, Melissa Vélez from the Demo Reset Team at Extituto, Colombia, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our organisation in collaboration with Street Project Foundation is dedicated to strengthening democracy in the Global South through citizen participation.”
Melissa Vélez noted, “collaborating with the Street Project Foundation since April 2024 has deepened our understanding of deliberative democracy and community engagement. We have been working together to understand how deliberative democracy functions, what elements it should include, and how community work can fit into these citizen participation scenarios. We are very happy to be here in Nigeria, sharing our assets and learning from you.”
Participants identified unemployment as the most critical challenge, with a staggering 90-95 per cent consensus among the youths.
Through guided exercises and improvisational role-play, attendees created a powerful dramatic piece that illuminated the root causes and consequences of unemployment.
