Africa Needs More Youth In Parliament – Oyewole

The Secretary-General of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole, has called for greater youth representation in African parliaments, stressing the need for deliberate training, mentorship and expanded opportunities for young people to participate in governance.

Oyewole made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) Youth Town Hall organised to commemorate International Youth Day 2026.

Speaking on the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” he said Africa’s future depended on preparing young people to assume the responsibilities of governance rather than allowing political leadership to emerge by chance.

Oyewole questioned why societies insist on professional training for soldiers, doctors and pilots but often allow people to assume political leadership without adequate preparation.

“Leadership is not a gift bestowed by circumstance. It is a discipline — one that demands preparation, mentorship, and deliberate investment,” he said.

According to him, the LMI, established by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was designed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills required for effective public leadership.

He disclosed that the initiative had graduated 218 fellows in five years, while more than 7,000 young Nigerians applied for only 50 fellowship positions in 2025.

The figures, he said, demonstrated the strong interest of young people in public service but also highlighted the scarcity of opportunities available to them.

“This is not merely a statistic; it is a verdict. It tells us that ambition is abundant, but opportunities are scarce,” Oyewole said.

Citing the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 2025 report on youth participation in national parliaments, the CoSPAL Secretary-General said only 2.8 per cent of parliamentarians globally were aged 30 or below, while more than one-third of parliamentary chambers had no young member.

He said the situation was particularly significant for Africa, the world’s youngest continent, and urged young people to take an active role in shaping the continent’s future.

“Africa’s youth cannot afford to be powerless characters in the story of our continent. In fact, you must be the authors of Africa’s story,” he said.

Oyewole said CoSPAL had placed the inclusion of youth, women and persons with disabilities at the centre of its mission, adding that LMI had become the organisation’s flagship youth leadership development programme.

He further disclosed that the fellowship was being expanded across Africa to develop a pool of capable and properly trained leaders who could contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development.

He disclosed that about 95 per cent of the CoSPAL Secretariat’s workforce comprised young people, describing the composition as a reflection of the organisation’s commitment to youth inclusion.

The CoSPAL Secretary-General urged African governments and institutions to move beyond celebrating young people and create practical pathways for their participation in governance.

“Africa does not suffer from a shortage of talent. It suffers from a shortage of pathways,” Oyewole said.

He added that young Africans must not only be seen and heard, but also empowered, entrusted, trained and equipped to lead the continent into the future.

The Town Hall also featured the launch of the CoSPAL/LMI policy brief titled “State of Youth Representation in African Parliaments.”

Presenting the policy brief, Ms. Solape Sonuga, Director of LMI and Deputy Chief of Staff at CoSPAL, described it as “a mirror held up to our institutions,” providing an assessment of progress, existing gaps and areas requiring reform to improve youth representation in African legislatures.

Delivering the keynote address, Maryam Bukar, the first-ever United Nations Global Advocate for Peace and Security, urged African parliaments to create genuine pathways for youth participation in legislative processes.

“Young people should not just sit in the gallery watching democracy happen — we should be in the chamber, shaping it,” Bukar said.

She said youth engagement with African legislatures must move beyond passive observation to active participation in democratic governance.

Oyewole also endorsed Bukar’s candidacy for the position of African Union Youth Envoy, describing her record in peace advocacy and commitment to young people across Africa as evidence of her capacity to represent the interests of the continent’s youth.

“I cannot think of a more powerful voice for youth at the African Union and globally,” he said, declaring CoSPAL’s “unwavering and unflinching support” for her candidacy.

Also speaking, the Special Assistant on International Cooperation and Educational Development in the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Abisoye da Rocha-Afodu, said the Office of the Speaker remained committed to nurturing the next generation of legislative leaders.

“The Office of the Speaker remains firmly committed to nurturing the next generation of legislative leaders. Initiatives like LMI are central to building a National Assembly that reflects the country it serves,” she said.

For her part, the Group Manager at the Leadership Advancement Foundation (LEAF) and member of the LMI Planning and Advisory Committee, Ms. Adeola Olayinka, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to the initiative.

“LEAF is proud to stand alongside CoSPAL and the LMI as partners in this work. Investing in young people’s readiness for leadership is one of the most consequential investments any institution can make in Africa’s future,” she said.