The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

Army hands over newly built Tudun Biri primary school to Kaduna govt

The Nigerian Army has formally handed over a newly constructed primary school to the Kaduna State Government in Tudun Biri, marking a significant milestone for a community previously affected by an accidental airstrike.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad Wase, led the handover and assured residents that Governor Uba Sani’s administration would promptly deploy teachers and support staff to the school.

Receiving the facility on behalf of the governor, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shuaibu, said the school features seven classrooms, a staff room, and a head teacher’s office.

He encouraged parents to enrol their children, noting that education remains a top priority for the state and the community.

According to him, “His Excellency is not relaxing on his oars. Provision of staffing for this primary school will be done as quickly as possible so that children of this community can begin to enjoy this beautiful facility.”

“This community has remained a priority to the state government,” he noted.

The Security Commissioner, however, commended the military engineers for “a wonderful job,” stating that the facility will stand the test of time.

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For residents, the facility is transformative. Tudun Biri youth leader, Abubakar Musa, described the development as “a dream come true.”

“Our children used to travel long distances to attend school, costing us heavily in transport and fees. This new facility will save us money and help our children reach levels of education many of us never attained,” he said.

Before now, Tudun Biri had neither a primary nor a secondary school. But since the accidental airstrike that drew national attention last year, the community has witnessed accelerated development, including new roads and other critical amenities.

The school is one of the Nigerian Army’s civil-military cooperation initiatives aimed at improving access to education and strengthening community development in Kaduna State.

November 18, 2025
Support your husbands’ success in new national security roles, First Lady urges wives of service chiefs

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday charged the wives of newly appointed service chiefs to fully support their husbands as they assume critical national security roles, stressing that their complementary responsibilities are vital to the fight against insecurity.

“You are playing a supportive and complementary role to them. I expect that you will work hard with your husbands, hard to meet the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief and Nigerians in the fight against insecurity,” the First Lady said during an audience with the women at the State House, Abuja.

Senator Tinubu said the service chiefs had signed up to protect the nation “at the expense of their own lives,” and prayed for their success as they undertake their new assignments.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady reminded their spouses that the demands of the moment call for collective sacrifice, commitment, and unwavering support on the home front.

Before the meeting commenced, the First Lady called for a minute of silence in honour of the Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, who was killed during the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls.

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She condemned the attack as “very unfortunate and sad,” calling it a painful reminder of the urgent security challenges confronting the nation.

Senator Tinubu also urged her guests to continue prioritising care for the elderly, noting that the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) would hold its annual RHI/Elderly Support Programme nationwide in December, with military veterans among the beneficiaries.

Responding on behalf of the delegation, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, wife of the Inspector General of Police, praised the First Lady for her sustained empowerment initiatives, scholarship awards, provision of healthcare consumables, and other interventions benefiting vulnerable Nigerians.

In a separate engagement, the First Lady received the management of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), during which Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed decorated her as the Grand Matron of the Road Safety Special Marshal.

Senator Tinubu thanked the Commission for the honour and called for greater adoption of technology and improved inter-agency collaboration to reduce road accidents.

She expressed hope for stricter enforcement of speed limits through modern systems and urged the deployment of more FRSC personnel nationwide during the upcoming yuletide season.

The First Lady said these measures would significantly help reduce crashes and enhance safety on Nigerian roads.

November 18, 2025
Your call for foreign invasion reckless, unpatriotic, APC blasts PDP

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the call for foreign invasion of Nigeria by the new factional chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, as reckless and unpatriotic.

The factional leader of the PDP, while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday over the crisis ravaging his party, called on foreign powers to intervene in Nigeria to save the country from alleged “Christian genocide” and to protect democracy.

Reacting to the call, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, in a statement Tuesday night in Abuja, strongly condemned the opposition for making such shameless and dangerous calls.

Dismissing Turaki, the APC spokesman said, “For a man declared National Chairman barely 72 hours ago by a faction of his deeply fractured party, Turaki looked and sounded desperate, at his wits’ end, confused, incoherent, and grossly lacking in the stamina and capacity to manage his party’s crisis.

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“Nigerians expected that Turaki would set himself on an urgent peace-building mission to bring his party’s warring factions together in dialogue towards finding possible pathways to peace and reconciliation.

“Instead, Turaki’s first official act as factional chairman was his call for foreign invasion of Nigeria as a solution to the self-inflicted internal crisis of his PDP. That is as shameless as it is a dangerous threat to national security and sovereignty.”

Morka argued further that, “Under the PDP’s 16 years in power, with its ruthless subversion of opposition parties, there was never a call for foreign invasion of Nigeria as a solution to the crisis within opposition parties of that era. Turaki’s call is not only an admission of the party’s incapacity to manage its internal contradictions. It must be taken as a final certification of the PDP’s demise.”

The governing party then called on the international community to ignore Turaki’s call, insisting that the opposition call was only seeking destructive intervention of foreign powers on Nigerian soil in order to serve their sinister political agenda.

“We trust the international community to dismiss the PDP’s disgraceful and unpatriotic call as a pitiful distraction from the failure of its internal democracy and embarrassing disintegration. The heightened desperation of the PDP and other opposition leaders is now clear for all to see. Turaki’s call shows how far they are willing to go, even to the extent of actively seeking the destructive intervention of foreign powers on Nigerian soil to serve their sinister political agenda.”

The party then urged Nigerians to stand firm in support of APC and the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as we continue the arduous task of building progress and prosperity in all areas of our national life.

November 18, 2025
Reps threaten arrest of BOA MD, ARCN DG over N1.2tr agric intervention probe

The Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, on Tuesday threatened to issue bench warrants for the arrest of the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ayo Sontinrin, and the Director-General of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban.

Okafor made the threat during the resumed investigative hearing on the alleged misuse of N1.2 trillion allocated for agricultural interventions, warning that failure to appear at the hearings would compel the Committee to invoke its parliamentary powers.

“The Committee held its maiden investigative hearing on April 8, 2025, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in attendance, followed by a second session on June 16, 2025, with both the CBN and participating financial institutions (PFIs) present,” he said. “While some organizations have honored our invitations and provided verifiable records to show non-involvement, others have either ignored us or offered flimsy excuses. This is unacceptable.”

The BOA had cited the appointment of a new MD as its reason for non-attendance, but Okafor rejected this excuse, noting that the bank is an ongoing institution and the change in leadership does not absolve it of the responsibility to appear before the Committee.

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The Committee also demanded documents and correspondence between Prospect Micro-Finance Bank and the CBN concerning a discrepancy in disbursed agricultural funds. The bank’s MD, Mr. Isaac Inwang, had claimed that N14.6 million was disbursed to 30 poultry farmers, with N6 million recovered and held pending further CBN instructions.

The CBN, however, contended that N15.5 million was disbursed and accused the bank of breaching guidelines by retaining recovered funds for over three years.

Okafor directed the Micro-Finance Bank to submit the requested documents on Wednesday, November 19, and to provide clarifications on observed breaches.

Meanwhile, the Committee cleared the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) of any wrongdoing. Its DG, Alhaji Fatuhu Muhammed, confirmed that the agency did not participate in the implementation of the Anchor Borrowers Programme, a position corroborated by the CBN. The Chairman commended the DG for cooperating with the Committee.

Recall that on July 1, 2025, the House mandated its Committees on Nutrition and Food Security, Agricultural Production and Services, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, and Finance to investigate alleged mismanagement of federal agricultural interventions outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

November 18, 2025
Reps launch probe into abandoned FG properties, vow to recover national assets

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to investigate the federal government’s abandoned landed properties and buildings across the country, declaring that the era of national assets wasting away is over.

Speaking at the inauguration held at the National Assembly, Abbas said the committee’s mandate reflects the 10th House’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability in public asset management.

“We are committed to ensuring that no public property is left to decay or fall into neglect,” Abbas said. “These facilities represent public wealth that must serve the country.”

The Speaker, who was represented by the Chief Whip, Hon Usman Bello Kumon, said the investigation would cover the location, status, history, and current occupancy of all abandoned federal properties, alongside the policy failures that led to their abandonment.

Abbas tasked the committee, chaired by Hon. Daniel Amos, to be meticulous and fearless in identifying assets that have been left idle, mismanaged, encroached upon, or illegally acquired.

He stressed that federal landed assets, from buildings to empty plots, must either be rehabilitated, converted to public use, or responsibly disposed of.

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“The public expects honest findings and recommendations that will help the government stop waste and improve asset management,” he said. “This responsibility calls for focus, patience, and a strong sense of national duty.”

The Speaker also announced plans for a long-term framework in partnership with the Executive to track, protect, and optimise federal properties nationwide.

“The 10th House will work with the Executive to establish a coordinated and transparent system for identifying, assessing, and restoring abandoned Federal Government properties,” he said.

Abbas urged the committee to engage ministries, agencies, host communities, and stakeholders, promising that the House would act on their recommendations.

“The eyes of the country are on you,” he warned. “Let your work reflect the expectations of Nigerians and inspire confidence in the legislative process.”

Chairman of the newly inaugurated House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Daniel Amos, vowed to reclaim and redeploy national assets that have been left to rot across the country.

He said the assignment is both a national obligation and a moral duty, as thousands of abandoned federal properties represent “lost opportunities” for development, housing, revenue, and public benefit.

Amos said the House has given the panel a clear timeline and a broad mandate to investigate, recover, and recommend long-term reforms in public property management.

“This mandate is not merely administrative; it is a solemn responsibility to the Nigerian people, whose resources and heritage these assets represent,” he said.

Amos stressed that the probe would cover the full identification and verification of all abandoned federal landed properties nationwide, with a key objective to develop a central, reliable database, something the country has never had.

He listed the committee’s mandate to include: Establishing a national inventory of abandoned assets; Examining the financial, economic, and developmental costs of their abandonment; Determining the MDAs responsible for each property; Investigating administrative, regulatory, and budgetary failures; Recommending recovery, rehabilitation, or productive reuse; and Proposing long-term reforms to prevent future waste

The committee, he said, would produce an evidence-driven report within the stipulated timeframe and ensure every recommendation is tied to national development and public accountability.

“Every abandoned property represents deferred development, lost revenue, and a diminishing of public trust,” Amos stated. “The work before us is not just technical, it is moral.”

He pledged transparency, professionalism, and a “fidelity to public trust,” urging ministries, agencies, and stakeholders to cooperate fully.

Amos said the ultimate goal is to transform idle public properties into sources of growth rather than symbols of waste.

“Together, let us turn these dormant assets into engines of growth, sources of revenue, and symbols of renewed national stewardship,” he said.

November 18, 2025
JUST IN: PDP members defect to APC in Ondo, declare support for Tinubu’s re-election

Scores of members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging their support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The defectors, who are grassroots mobilisers drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state, said they could no longer remain in the “crisis-ridden” PDP with what they described as a weakened leadership structure.

The PDP defectors, who are also members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), attributed their switch to APC to President Tinubu’s economic reforms and ongoing infrastructure projects across the state.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors under the banner of the Asiwaju Transport Movement on Tuesday, Mr. Ojo Adewole commended President Tinubu for what he called the restoration of the country’s “lost glory” through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adewole cited several federal road projects – including the dualisation of the Benin-Ilesa Expressway, the Ore -Ondo Akure road expansion, the Akure – Ado-Ekiti Expressway, and the ongoing coastal highway – as major factors that influenced their decision.

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“We were encouraged to join the APC by our Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. We thank him for the opportunity given to us, and we will not disappoint him nor the party,” He said.

He added that the continuation of road projects initiated during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari convinced them that President Tinubu was committed to national development.

Adewole also recalled that the only PDP federal lawmaker from Ondo State, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, and the three remaining PDP members in the state House of Assembly had recently defected to the APC – a development he said had left the state “virtually a one-party system.”

Receiving the defectors at the APC Secretariat in Akure, the state chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin welcomed and urged them to mobilise support for a landslide victory for President Tinubu in 2027.

“This is the party of victory. In the APC, we don’t discriminate -there are no old members or new members; we are all equal, Adetimehin said.

He noted that the performance of President Tinubu had continued to draw more supporters into the ruling party.

“President Tinubu has done well for us in this state. We can all see what he is doing. His Renewed Hope Initiatives are favouring us.

“Work has begun on new road projects in Ondo State, and our people are being given appointments. So, we must work hard to give him a landslide victory here,” he added.

November 18, 2025
Kebbi students’ abduction: Group suggests way out

A criminal justice reform advocacy group, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) has advised on how the federal government could recover the abducted students in Kebbi State and how to prevent recurrence.

The CSLS urged the Federal Government to improve its current efforts to protect learning institutions, particularly those in remote areas, to address the recurring cases of student abduction.

The CSLS, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), while speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, hailed the country’s anti-terror efforts, but urged the Federal Government not to ignore the interest shown by the United States government.

Akinseye-George spoke while announcing the beginning of a new year of the CSLS Project, which is implemented with the generous support of the European Union, through the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Akinseye-George said, “We insist that the government prioritizes the protection of lives and property, with particular attention to minority religious communities in Northern Nigeria, who continue to face severe and targeted attacks.

“Strengthening access to justice cannot be isolated from the broader security landscape. A nation where communities live in fear cannot fully experience the protections and guarantees that the justice system is meant to uphold,” the CSLS said.

It urged the federal government to work with the US authorities in its efforts to address the current security challenge.

“We believe that the recent statement by President Donald Trump serves as a call to action, prompting us to take a critical and introspective approach to national security.

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“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently intensify its efforts in addressing the rising insecurity across the country,” it added.

The group assured that in its new project year, it will actively advance initiatives to strengthen the implementation of the ACJA, promote uniform justice procedures, and work towards removing systemic barriers to an effective criminal justice system.

It added that, “Our key priorities include:

*Conducting inspection visits and providing targeted support to state-level justice institutions to strengthen compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/ Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJA/ACJLs.)

*Advocating for the adoption of the Model Practice Direction on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to enhance uniformity and improve procedural efficiency across jurisdictions.

*Hosting the Technical Review and Evaluation for focal states to assess progress, address implementation challenges, and harmonize best practices.

*Strengthening advocacy for the passage of the ACJ 2023 Bill and the amendment of relevant constitutional provisions to remove barriers to effective criminal justice administration.”

At a subsequent event, where he declared and opened a capacity building workshop on “constitutional impediments to access to justice in Nigeria,” Prof Akinseye-George identified inherent provisions in the nation’s Constitution that impede access to justice for the citizens.

Akinseye-George said: “As we begin, it is important to underscore the constitutional barriers that continue to affect access to justice for millions of Nigerians.

“One of the most fundamental is the non-justiciability of Chapter II of the Constitution, which limits the enforceability of socio-economic rights; rights that are essential for ensuring that justice is accessible, inclusive, and meaningful.

“Without enforceability, many rights remain aspirational rather than protective.

We must also confront the impact of excessive executive influence over the judiciary, particularly in the areas of funding, appointments, and administrative control.

“A justice system cannot deliver effectively where its independence is structurally constrained. Judicial autonomy is not only a constitutional ideal; it is a prerequisite for fairness, efficiency, and public confidence.

Furthermore, the rigid constitutional amendment procedure continues to slow down critical justice sector reforms.

“Laws and institutions must evolve to reflect societal changes, but when constitutional processes are too cumbersome, reforms stagnate, hindering modern criminal justice administration and limiting the country’s ability to respond to emerging challenges.

“These systemic barriers are not theoretical—they affect case management, pretrial processes, legal enforcement, court administration, and ultimately the daily experience of citizens seeking justice.

“By understanding these constraints, we are better equipped to design reforms that are sustainable, realistic, and constitutional,” he said.

As a way of improving public confidence in the nation’s criminal justice system, Akinseye-George urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2023 (ACJ 2023 Bill).

He added, “This long-overdue legislation contains critical provisions that will modernize and strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system, including measures to enhance efficiency, protect fair trial rights, and improve case management across courts.

“Its enactment is essential to address longstanding gaps in justice administration, bolster accountability, and ensure the system responds effectively to the needs of all Nigerians,” the CSLS President said.

November 18, 2025
Senate decries killing of Army General, abduction of 25 Kebbi schoolgirls

…probes Safe School Initiative

…adjourns plenary till November 25

There was widespread outrage in the Senate on Tuesday following reports of the killing of an army general, a vice principal, and the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi South by armed attackers.

The reaction came after former Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi moved a motion drawing the chamber’s attention to the attack.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the slain general and vice principal, and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted students.

The lawmakers also resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative amid recurring assaults on educational institutions.

In addition, the Senate adjourned plenary until Tuesday, November 25, to allow senators to participate in ongoing security summits being held across the six geopolitical zones.

The resolutions followed the adoption of Abdullahi’s motion, in which he condemned the attack on Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, as well as related incidents in Borno State.

Abdullahi stressed the need for urgent action to protect schools and communities from repeated security threats, noting the disturbing impact of such incidents on education and national stability.

“Despite some police presence, which proved insufficient, the terrorists invaded the school, abducting 25 young girls, killing the vice-principal, and wounding the principal. This atrocious act occurred yesterday at about 4 p.m.

“Such kidnapping of schoolgirls is a slap in the face to our nation.

“The continued attacks by terrorist groups on educational institutions not only undermine the quality of education but also discourage parents from sending their children to school.

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“Unfortunately, this is not unprecedented. In 2022, a similar attack occurred in another government secondary school in Kebbi, and it took four long years for the girls to be safely recovered.

“I am deeply hurt by this recurring menace. The terrorization of our students, children, and educational institutions must stop immediately.

“Security measures previously taken, including temporary school closures in the affected areas, were not enough to prevent this latest attack.

“I urge the Federal Government and all security agencies to take immediate action to rescue the abducted girls and apprehend the terrorists responsible.

“While we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded principal, I also request this Distinguished Senate to observe a minute of silence in honour of the deceased vice-principal.

“This attack is not only a tragedy for Kebbi State but a wake-up call for the entire nation.

“A country that cannot secure its children cannot fulfill its obligations to its citizens. I appeal to the President and all security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safe recovery of the girls and the punishment of the perpetrators.”

He thanked the Senate for suspending the normal order of business to allow him the opportunity to “voice my deep indignation at this atrocity.”

In his contribution, Senator Mohammed Tahir Munguno (Borno North), described the abduction of the 25 school girls as a reprehensible act that demands a strong response from the parliament.

Monguno said, “As representatives entrusted with the mandate of the people, it is our responsibility to condemn such crimes in unison and call for immediate action.

“The security and protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government.

“Citizens surrender part of their sovereignty to the state under a social contract, expecting peace, order, and safety in return.

“I commend Mr. President for immediately directing the military to pursue these terrorists and rescue the girls.

“This Senate must be equally responsive and support this motion without delay, sending a clear message that attacks on our children and educational institutions will not be tolerated.

“Anything short of decisive action will undermine public confidence in government and school enrollment. I fully support this motion.”

Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) expressed hope that the girls would be released safely, and as quickly as possible, to avoid a repeat of the Chibok tragedy.

He added, “However, this recurring criminality is becoming normalized in our society.

“Security forces – Army, Air Force, and Police – appear to operate in silos, which hinders effective coordination. The rising wave of kidnappings requires collective action from all Nigerians, not just the military, to demand accountability and enforce discipline.

“Clear targets and timelines must be set to eradicate these criminal networks.”

Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong described the incident as a heartbreaking and gut-wrenching tragedy.

“School children, who go to school to learn and develop themselves and their communities, are no longer safe.

“The Senate must pass a resolution that demands decisive action from security agencies, providing all necessary resources, but also setting a clear ultimatum and consequences for failure.

“Protecting the lives and property of our citizens, especially our children, is the primary responsibility of the government.

“We must act effectively and decisively to end the insecurity that has plagued this nation for over a decade,” he said.

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa commended the Armed Forces for their efforts, saying they are overwhelmed.

“With a population exceeding 230 million and only 177,000 personnel, it is impossible to cover every area, especially forests and remote regions.

“We must rethink our approach. Traditional rulers, communities, and individuals must play a proactive role.

“We need to identify and expose those responsible for these crimes, at every level, and ensure accountability.

“Every Nigerian must take the law seriously and partner with the government and security agencies.

“Repeating motions and committees without action has led to repeated tragedies.

“It is time for a collective national effort to secure our children and communities,” he said.

November 18, 2025
FULL LIST: Major social media sites affected by Cloudflare outage

A major Cloudflare outage on Tuesday caused widespread disruption across the internet, knocking several high-traffic social media platforms, entertainment services, and productivity tools offline.

The outage, which began shortly before midday Nigerian time, triggered error messages on multiple websites and apps, leaving millions of users unable to connect.

Cloudflare acknowledged the disruption, and the shutdown was eventually fixed.

Because Cloudflare sits behind a vast number of online services, protecting them from cyberattacks and ensuring stability during high-traffic moments, the disruption rippled across numerous websites simultaneously.

READ ALSO: Major web outage hits X, Facebook, others amid widespread Cloudflare error

Below is the full list of major platforms affected by the Cloudflare outage:

1. X (formerly Twitter)

2. OpenAI / ChatGPT

3. League of Legends

4. Spotify

5. Canva

6. Perplexity

7. LetterboxD

8. Truth Social

9. Indeed

10. Zoom

November 18, 2025
APC chieftain urges Nigerian youths to harness digital skills for political leadership

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun West Senatorial District, Dr. Peter Ogundeji, has encouraged young Nigerians to leverage their digital skills and aspire to political leadership, noting that the country’s technological growth places youths at a natural advantage in governance.

Speaking at a colloquium and book launch held in Osogbo to mark his birthday, Ogundeji said youth participation in politics remains essential for national development.

The event was attended by prominent party figures, including former PDP National Chairman now in APC, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, and APC governorship aspirant, Senator Mudashiru Hussein.

Ogundeji highlighted Africa’s unique demographic position, stating that nearly 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africans are under 30.

He added that Nigeria, with a population of over 230 million, has a median age of 18.1 years, with 58 per cent of its citizens under 25.

He expressed concern that despite the demographic strength, young Nigerians remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.

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He noted that in the 2023 general elections, youth candidacy was below 10 per cent, even though young people form more than half of the population.

Ogundeji attributed this gap to structural challenges, financial limitations, outdated age requirements, and political gatekeeping, stressing the need for reforms that open more opportunities for young leaders.

He said, “When young people participate in governance, they inject fresh ideas, challenge outdated assumptions, and offer solutions driven by innovation. They are uniquely positioned to tackle challenges such as unemployment and corruption, which weaken our institutions.

“Around the world, youth-led governance models have strengthened education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital economies. Development without youth is like attempting to build a house without a foundation; it simply cannot stand.”

He advised that “Youths must aspire for political leadership positions, and technology has given them an edge. The responsibility lies on us to ask for a leadership position, with the digital age that we are in now, the innovation that comes with it, the youth have an edge.”

November 18, 2025