Sir, I have an assurance that if youths are given the opportunity to organize a movement with intentionality and straightforwardness, there would be a clean political participation of youths for good governance. Youths are the custodians of national growth and developments. Their efforts usually bring easy and enormous dividends of democracy to the language of all citizens.

Youths must make their political ideologies known, and from a leadership styles such opportunity is governed. There must be a clear proposal for the youth inclusion, and political leaders must adhere to an assisting call for a smooth cooperation and appropriation of agreed policies, which are way too good to activate and energize such goals. Working hand-in-hand with the youths is one of the surest methods to deliver good mandates. This will simply bring a developmental urge of an administration to the citizens. It is good to deliver good governance – however, it is better to deliver according to the wishes of masses, and it is best to deliver in accordance to the opinions of the well-meaning and unbiased citizens with a touch of constitutional and legitimate directives. If this can be achieved in an administration, such systematic governance is worth repetition without fear of the citizens. This can be achieved without bringing harm to the government and citizens. Hence, a judicious usage and distribution of natural resources is in order – and so, it will be so easy for the government and the people.

Inclusively, this digital era, which is synonymous with the commonest form of media, would be an added advantage to our youths who are ready to effect changes in society. In this essence, they could put their ideas online to attract co-contributors, sponsors, and partnerships. There can be a formal follow-up after gathering followers or admirers. So, in this era, youths don’t need so much effort to make their plans for a nation known to the leaders and people – having access to a phone and data are things needed, simply.

In the area of activism, it will be easy to organize an online debate, and presentation of ideologies so as to attract local, state, national and international discourses and supports of all kinds which could translate for approval and promotions of relevant and developmental ideas. The media of the generation is digital. Social media is accessible to all levels of social stratification – that has made communication for unequal citizens simple. Relatively, there can be a rough and smooth argument on national policies. It is with this reason, I do urge our youths to initiate and maintain a useful usage of social media to effect their desired plans for the nation – because, there would be the nation of our desire only when we employ our efforts.

Youths must understand that their future can be achieved through rigorous support given to the government on good political influence – if they are not in the corridors of power. One must work for his or her success – others can only support and promote. It is on this notice that our youths must work tirelessly with the leaders to bring their future to live. This can be largely done online.

There are a lot of social platforms that youths can use to communicate political ideas and discourse – leading to social and digital implementation of policies and an organized movement for advocation of equity, equality and justice for their future and for the masses. There might be a lot of barriers to physical political engagements. In the area of digital, those barriers could be easily broken for force and erudite participation of politics. We can see how some biased youths betray fellows for personal favors. Such betrayal means nothing serious if a meeting, protest, or movement are largely held or conducted digitally. Though, physical arrangements remain the best as they bring a natural weight and flow of a movement. But, when daily engagements do not give room for frequent physical meetings and the rest, digital emergence should take place, whereas the physical meeting would come when and where necessary. They both serve a singular purpose. Therefore, in order not to put excuses on daily activities, digital participation of politics should be embraced to avoid procrastination and a total exclusion from politics.

The government owns a man, and the men own the government. So, by all means, youths, the custodians of a nation’s growths and developments, are mandated to be involved in physical political participation for their desired nation.

Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach is a Nigerian author, journalist, and activist.