Young Nigerians across the northern region have been urged to approach the upcoming 2027 general elections with a renewed sense of purpose, moving past empty promises to vote strictly based on competence and conviction.
This call to action came to light following an emergency strategic session held at the historic Arewa House in Kaduna. The gathering brought together the national leadership and state coordinators of the Arewa Youth Forum, who sat down to dissect the current socio-economic climate and map out a practical roadmap for youth civic participation in the next electoral cycle.
The leadership did not mince words regarding the worsening security challenges plaguing the North-East, North-West, North-Central, and the broader federation. Communities have been repeatedly upended, innocent lives lost, and once-thriving agricultural hubs reduced to dangerous zones where farmers dare not tread. Compounding this tragedy, the group noted that classrooms have increasingly turned into vulnerable targets rather than safe havens for learning, underscoring a grim reality that a nation cannot realistically build a prosperous tomorrow while its people live in perpetual fear.
Beyond security, the forum turned its critical lens toward the biting economic realities facing the populace. Sweeping economic reforms have triggered a punishing wave of inflation, sending the cost of basic goods skyrocketing while job opportunities dwindle. Small business owners—ranging from local barbers and welders to cold-room operators and digital hub managers—are bearing the heaviest brunt, grappling with erratic power supply and exorbitant electricity tariffs that make survival nearly impossible. Observers at the meeting also flagged systemic decay within the educational and healthcare sectors as urgent priorities requiring sweeping policy overhauls.
Addressing the youth directly, the leadership implored them to reject divisive antics driven by tribalism, religious bigotry, or blind party loyalty. Poverty, insecurity, and bad governance do not carry identity cards; they afflict every citizen equally.
The forum ultimately charged young eligible voters to take concrete steps by securing their Permanent Voter Cards well ahead of time, steadfastly refusing vote-buying overtures, and maintaining a vigilant watch over the electoral process from the polling booths all the way to the final collation centers.
