Former Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, has called for greater youth inclusion in governance, describing it as a necessity for national development rather than an act of political benevolence.
Speaking at the 7th Annual Symposium of the Oladele John Nihi (OJN) Initiative in Lokoja on Wednesday, Onyegbule urged political leaders across Nigeria to deliberately prepare younger generations for leadership through mentorship, trust and meaningful participation in decision-making.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Youth as Stakeholders in Governance and Democratic Development: From Inheriting Nigeria to Building Nigeria,” Onyegbule said democracy could only thrive when young people move beyond being spectators to becoming active stakeholders in governance.
According to her, “Youth inclusion is not charity. It is not affirmative action or political tokenism. Youth inclusion is good governance. A nation that excludes its young people from governance does not punish the youth; it impoverishes itself.”
She argued that governance should not be reduced to elections alone, stressing that democracy is sustained through everyday civic participation by citizens across different sectors of society.
”Democracy is not an event; it is a culture. Political office is only one platform for service. Citizenship itself is a platform for service.”
The former government spokesperson, who is now the Head, Government Strategic, Credlanche Group, maintained that effective leadership requires a combination of experience and youthful innovation, noting that governments perform better when they embrace diverse perspectives.
”Experience provides wisdom, while youth provides innovation. Experience asks what has worked before; youth asks what else is possible. Balanced leadership comes from combining both,” she added.
Reflecting on her years in public service, Onyegbule said serving in the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello exposed her to the realities of governance, particularly in addressing security challenges in Kogi State due to its strategic location as a gateway connecting northern and southern Nigeria.
She said the previous administration invested significantly in strengthening the state’s security architecture through intelligence gathering, collaboration with security agencies, and community participation.
While acknowledging that no administration completes the work of nation-building, she commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for sustaining policies and institutional reforms initiated by his predecessor, particularly in the area of security.
”Good governance is not about perpetual reinvention but continuous improvement. One administration lays the foundation, another strengthens the structure, and the people become the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
She warned against the tendency of successive governments to abandon viable policies simply because they were initiated by previous administrations, describing continuity as a hallmark of mature leadership.
Addressing young Nigerians, Onyegbule urged them to match their demands for inclusion with adequate preparation, insisting that competence, integrity, and discipline remain essential for effective leadership.
”It is not enough to demand a seat at the table. Opportunity may open the door, but competence determines whether you remain in the room,” she said.
She encouraged young people to begin leadership preparation through education, volunteerism, and community service, emphasizing that “your competence must become your loudest campaign, your integrity your strongest recommendation, and your work ethic your signature.”
Onyegbule also charged older leaders to deliberately mentor emerging leaders, arguing that appointments alone were insufficient without trust, responsibility, and opportunities for growth.
”If we truly believe young people are stakeholders in governance, then we must invest in them—not merely with appointments, but with mentorship, confidence, responsibility and opportunities to lead,” she stated.
Using Kogi State’s identity as the Confluence State as a metaphor, she called for stronger collaboration between generations, saying the relationship between experience and innovation should resemble the meeting of Rivers Niger and Benue.
”Experience should not fear innovation, and innovation should not dismiss experience. Together, they provide progress,” she said.
She also paid tribute to the convener of the symposium, Comrade Oladele John Nihi, commending his consistency in sustaining the annual event over seven editions and describing the symposium as an institution that promotes youth engagement in democratic development.
She concluded by urging Nigerians to embrace leadership as stewardship rather than ownership, challenging both current and future leaders to build stronger institutions, deepen democracy and prepare the next generation for national service.
”The baton is already in our hands. History is already watching. The question is whether we will spend our time complaining or building Nigeria.”
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