Nigeria Youth 4 Peace Initiative (NY4PI), a network of young people working on peace-building and coordinated by Building Block For Peace foundation, is converging nothing less than 60 Nigerian youths who are going to be trained to be preachers of peaceful youth involvement in the coming 2019 elections.

The training is holding at the group’s 3rd National Workshop themed “2019 Elections in Nigeria: Enhancing Youth Political Participation for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”, holding today, Thursday, June 28, 2018, at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan.

Speaking on the workshop, NY4PI National Coordinator, Mr. Rafiu Lawal, reminded Nigerians of the incidents where youth-led protests have forced authoritarian regimes out of power, linking the scenes to significant frustration among youths who were not included in decision-making.

Mr. Lawal reflected that according to the Human Right Watch, every electoral process comes with its fair share of violent conflict, for instance, the 2003 and 2007 general elections were among the worst elections witnessed in Nigeria, as at least 300 people were killed in the violent attacks.

He asserted that at the centre of every election violent conflicts are the youth who funnily, makes up about 63 percent (60 million) of all the eligible voters.

“In this wise, these youths in politics and governance has far-reaching implications in the country as a more politically active youth would bring about fresh ideas, insight, values and strengthening the democratic system which will, in turn, bring about peace, security and development,” he said.

Lawal disclosed that the workshop will map out expected roles to be played by youth throughout the electoral cycle, and it will highlight ways by which youth can contribute to peaceful elections and be politically active.

“In the same line, the workshop will identify innovative youth-led initiatives, formal and informal, that enhance youth political participation, and proffer ways by which young people’s role and influence in decision-making be enhanced,” he said.

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