Leadership: Youths must engage in politics to save Nigeria — Mahmoud

Nigerian youths have been urged to be fully engaged in the process of rebuilding the country and also participate in politics.

Hajiya Nana Mahmoud, Chairperson, Jama’a Mata Arewa, FCT Chapter, made the call in Abuja while admonishing youths at the Next President Reality TV Show and Leadership Award Presentation organised by Superior Radio and Television (SRTV).

Mahmoud, who is also the Board Chairman, La Plage Meta Verse, Africa’s first asynchronous learning platform, said the country would reap the benefit if youths began to occupy leadership positions in the country.

“We have reached a stage where we should engage our youths in the process of politics; we need to start early.

“If we engage our youths at the early stage, we are sure of producing responsible leaders, husbands and fathers.

“We should also look into women inclusion and we need to engage them in every aspect.

“What SRTV is doing with the reality television show is one of the processes to prepare the youths to take over.

“We keep having recycled politicians because the youths have refused to show responsibility in the past; Nigerian youths have woken up and they have seen that it is achievable,” she said.

Mr Kenneth Paul, Head of Administration, SRTV, said the organisation had already started the journey to position the youths for future leadership roles.

Paul said the annual “Next President Show” had produced winners who can be trusted with leadership position.

He said that the 37 contestants in the 2023 show would attend leadership training in the UK in 2024, as part of efforts to prepare them for future leadership positions.

According to him, the show has been productive as the winner of the last edition is currently an aide to a political office holder in Abuja.

Paul said the objective was to involve the youths in politics and build them to take over different leadership positions.

“We do not believe that the youths are leaders of tomorrow, we believe that they are leaders of today.

“The objective of the show is youth involvement in politics and grooming youths to be leaders.

“We don’t just monitor their progress, we monitor their mentors and ask them what they have been able to do for the contestants, especially the winner.

“In the past, some of them have delved into civil society organisation, while some of them were candidates of different political parties in the last general election,” Paul said.

Mr Tunde Adebayo, winner of the 2023 edition of the Next President Reality TV show, said that he was already working to ensure a successful political career.

Adebayo, who represented Osun State, said he emerged victorious having completed the tasks he was assigned to do in the house.

“I am good at uniting people and that is what the show is all about.

“I have always been in leadership position, and that was why it wasn’t difficult for me to fit into this programme.

“This is a starting point for me and I am working to enhance my ability to be a good politician,” Adebayo said.

Adebayo, who pocketed the N500,000 prize money for the show, urged youths not to relent in their endeavours.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Phanuel Babale from Adamawa, emerged as the first runner up, while Jafaru Yakubu, who represented FCT, finished as the second runner up.

Theophilus Obaje from Kogi finished in fourth place, while Vincent Shilong, representing Gombe, ended the show on fifth position.