Okonjo-Iweala, others urge youths to drive reforms, strengthen civic action

National leaders have challenged youths to lead Nigeria’s renewal, warning that meaningful change now depends on young citizens organising, demanding accountability and driving sustained civic action.

They made the call on Wednesday night at the 15th anniversary of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), held in Lagos, with the theme “Footprints and Frontlines”.

Our correspondent reports that EiE is a civil society organisation advocating for accountable governance and citizen participation.

In a virtual keynote address, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, urged young Nigerians to lead change with courage and conviction.

She recalled her 2010 message to youths, saying it remained relevant.

“Do not wait and watch. Do not ask for permission. Get up, organise and make a difference,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that with 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population under 30, young people hold huge influence in shaping the country’s direction.

She urged them to use their numbers constructively while confronting persistent challenges such as unemployment and poor access to capital.

She praised EiE’s “Office of the Citizen” initiative for empowering communities to demand transparency and improved public services, adding that civic pressure was crucial for reform.

“Real change depends on organised, determined and courageous young citizens,” she said.

In his remarks, Emir of Kano and former Central Bank Governor, Mohammad Sanusi, said rebuilding Nigeria required honesty and collective responsibility.

“As citizens, we must remember this nation belongs to us. We have done enough damage. Enough is enough, we need to stop,”he said.

Sanusi said Nigeria had repeatedly missed development opportunities because public office was often treated as personal property.

He called for a shared national vision that transcends ethnicity, religion and political interest.

Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto commended EiE for its resilience in advancing social justice and called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to persist in the struggle for a fair society.

“The journey to justice and fairness has no finish line.
Let us remain relentless in building a Nigeria that is just, equitable and bigger than all of us,” Kukah added.

Former Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, emphasised collaborative effort in nation-building, saying development required hard work, sacrifice and citizens’ willingness to contribute their “time, talents and treasures.”

Executive Director of EiE, Yemi Adamolekun, said Nigeria continued to underperform because citizens were not demanding enough from leaders.

She urged Nigerians not to detach their personal progress from the fate of the country.

She said, “Whatever industry we work in, if Nigeria becomes a failed state, we will all suffer. Silence is not an option. Evil is amplified when good people stay silent.”

After highlighting EiE’s milestones over the past 15 years, Adamolekun announced 36-year-old Mrs Ufuoma Nnamdi-Udeh as the organisation’s new Executive Director.

The anniversary also featured the relaunch of Footprints: Past, Present, Future (2nd Edition), compiled by EiE and forwarded by the late diplomat Dr Christopher Kolade, in whose honour the event was partly dedicated.

Attendees also watched the premiere of One Voice, Many Echoes, a short film featuring archival footage from the 1993 election annulment protests, the 2010 Enough is Enough marches and the 2020 EndSARS demonstrations.