About the book
Without doubt, the Nigeria democracy is here to stay, we have successful witnessed two power transitions from civilian to civilian and in a couple of months, we will witness the third. While I am aware of the many political challenges facing the Nigerian state, I am resolute that democracy can work in Nigeria and that the potentials for the future are enormous. This means our nascent democracy is gaining grounds and stabilizing.
The decision that politicians make affects and influences our lives on a daily basis, and we can not continue to ignore this aspect of our society because our future is largely connected to it, hence the need to actively engage in the process that brings these leaders to bear and influence them before they influence us.
"No-one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed to death."
-Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary General)
Nigeria’s road to building strong and viable democracy must start with actively engaging young people in democratic process and this engagement must start with empowering young people with resources and information on the nature and uniqueness of Nigeria democracy and how they can get involved. There is a powerful opportunity for Nigeria to succeed as a democratic state if young people are actively engaged and exposed to necessary resources, skills and information on how we can contribute to building and sustaining democracy as active citizens and leaders.
Young people represent an important group in the every society; we have an enormous stake in the present and future state of the Nigeria. More than half of the Nigerian population is under the age of 25, if Nigeria must progress, develop and move forward, it is unavoidably essential to deliberately engage young people’s resources of energy, time, talent, skills and knowledge and channel them towards the betterment of the society. This can only be achieve by empowering the youth, giving them the opportunity to contribute to the societal development by providing them with information, skills and resources to do so.
An informed youth is essential to building a robust democracy, and brings to the table rich resources and skills, thereby contributing same creatively to the improvement of the society, providing possibilities beyond limits. The DNA of young people allows us to creatively engage in problems solving endeavors, compete and challenge ourselves and make real difference. This we can not do, except we are provided with a platform to engage.
Information is power, thus, empowering youths with information on how we can participate in building Nigeria’s democracy is a fundamental requirement for the survival of Nigeria democracy. Providing information for youths provides opportunity to engage us, and engaging us creates the space that helps build bridges upon which the future of Nigeria democracy can stand. Without actively involving the youths in the process and the development democracy in Nigeria, the future can not be guaranteed.
Democracy: a guide for young Nigerians provides the platform to inform young people on what democracy is, the need for democracy, the nature and uniqueness of the Nigerian democracy, how to get involved as citizens of Nigeria and help build the Nigeria we desire among other key information.
This volume will create the space to inspire and inform young people to get involved in democracy starting from our immediate communities through the local, states and federal government as well as in schools, religious organisation etc. Democracy is all about participation, and you can not participate except you are informed and that’s all this book is all about, to inform youths on ways to get going and be part of change that is taking place around us with effect to democracy.
This important and skillfully-prepared book comes at a critical time, a time when the campaign for citizen engagement in political space is in the increase. Another great strength of this volume is the pragmatic approach it provides to engaging the youth, the provision basic and in-depth information necessary to spark and inspire action in every youth to actively engage in democracy and help build better communities while developing skills and values that can help them play a more meaningful role in the society.
It is my hope that every young person who uses this material will be inspired, as I have been, to take action and get involved in local democracy and be the change we seek. It is possible!
‘Lekan Oshunkoya
Author, Democracy: A guide for every young Nigerian
1 comment:
Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves now and stop making troubles because, a man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself.
It becomes more necessary to see the truth as it is. if you realise that the only vehicle for change are the YOUTH who have lost their personality, The first step therefore is to make the YOUTH come to himself; to pump back life into their empty shell; to infuse them with pride and dignity, to remind them of their complicity in the crime of allowing themselves to be misused and therefore letting evil reign supreme in the country of their birth?
Does anybody really think that they didn't get what they had because they didn't have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment? No
For us to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.'
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