Politics
Debate: Yiaga engages youths on critical thinking for national development
Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), says it will continue to engage the Nigerian youths especially those in tertiary institutions on critical thinking, to proffer solutions to developmental challenges in the country.
The Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, said this at the grand finale of a debate competition it organised for students in tertiary institutions across the country on Monday in Abuja.
Itodo said the organisation would regularly use the platform of debate to engage youths in proffering solutions to the country’s challenges.
“Nigerians are unhappy with the state of things in the country but where will the solution come from if not from Nigerians,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the theme of the debate is “My Nigeria, Our Nigeria” and the topic for the debate is “Electioneering at local government level, who should be responsible, INEC or State Electoral Commissions.
The Yiaga boss listed the University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Imo State University (IMSU) and Veritas University, as the institutions taking part in the debate.
Itodo said that the country was going through a turbulent time and needed Nigerians to tackle it.
“Nigerians are unhappy with the state of things in the country but where will the solution come from if not from Nigerians.
“We felt that it is important that the young ones share their ideas about how to solve the problems of Nigeria; that is what citizenship is all about.
“That is why we came up with this debate competition to engage the students’ critical thinking to proffer solutions to our numerous challenges especially around governance,” Itodo said.
He said that the organisation collaborated with All Nigerian Universities Debating Council (ANUDC), the body that handles debates, to help with the organisation of the debate.
Mr Franklin Ubi, member, ANUDC, said the aim of the debate was to give students tools to engage in governance, democracy and development.
Speaking on the impact of the debate on national development, Ubi said that not having enough citizen engagement in governance was the major problem with governance.
“There has been a lack of debate in our electoral processes; you don’t see critical debates during elections, so it gives birth to leaders who just consider the electoral offices or the political offices.
“They get to the office without understanding what they are supposed to do.
“That is why at the National Assembly, you see a lot of legislators without quality in their expressions when defending or supporting a bill.
“Government agencies in national standards should support programmes like this and as well utilise the opportunity of learning, so we can have a better National Assembly.
”This is because the National Assembly is about debate.”
Mr Olaniyan Sanusi, Programme Officer, Citizens Engagement Unit, Yiaga Africa, said the debate was to rekindle hope and trust amongst young people.
“Through the debates we have seen more young people debate topics around citizenship, governance, democracy and national values.
“They share their ideas on what an ideal Nigeria should look like.
“We want them to start thinking about what the Nigerian future should look like and when they start thinking like that, they also start thinking about what to contribute to bring that future to reality,” Sanusi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Veritas University won the competition with a prize of N1.5m.
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) placed second, while Imo State University finished in third place. (NAN
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, says he is willing to step down his presidential ambition in the 2027 elections for a better politician to emerge as the flag bearer of his party.
The lawyer stated this on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
“Everybody knows that I have an aspiration. I’m working on it but God is the author of tomorrow; we don’t even know who is going to be around in 2027,” Adebayo said.
“It is my prayer to God that if there is a person who God thinks is better than me to fix the problem of Nigeria, my ambition should not stop that person because we want a country that works. That is the kind of thing we are working on at this time.”
Adebayo said the SDP would give Nigerians a candidate that all citizens would be proud of and be ready to give a chance to unseat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
The politician said the SDP won’t divide Nigerians along the delicate lines of religion and ethnicity.
He said, “What used to be an easy discussion – with religion and ethnicity – has become explosive now. So, we will not use the SDP forum to try to bifurcate our people into different zones.
“What we are looking for now is a system where when we make a choice in the SDP, there will be resounding joy outside the SDP and Nigerians will say: ‘Okay, finally, this platform has given the country a chance’.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for publicly acknowledging his efforts and calling him “Mr Infrastructure.”
Speaking to State House correspondents after the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr homage at the Presidential Villa, Wike described the President’s praise as a strong vote of confidence and a motivation to keep delivering results for residents of the FCT.
“I feel very happy that my boss has confidence in me,” Wike said. “If your boss, in public, says you are doing well, that, of course, is an encouragement for you to continue doing the job you’ve been assigned.”
The Minister, who has spearheaded a series of infrastructure and service delivery reforms across Abuja, said he remains committed to meeting the expectations of both the President and the people of the territory.
“For us, we’re happy to be identified in this administration, and we’ll continue to do what Abuja people will be happy with,” he said. “So I’m happy each time Mr. President talks about us and tries to say the little we have done. That means he’s watching, and we will not disappoint him.”
When asked about the next wave of infrastructure projects expected as the Tinubu administration approaches its second anniversary, Wike confirmed that a fresh round of projects is already in the works.
“The committee is working,” he revealed. “You can be assured it can’t be less than what we did last time.”
The Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani has declared interest for re-election in the 2027 general elections.
Shehu Sani made the declaration on Sunday while delivering his Eid-el-Fitr message at his residence in Kaduna.
He said, “any politician who is going to contest election will be dependent on political equation which will determine what position is going to contest. I would say that if the conditions are rights and equations favourable, I will offer myself to contest but specifically on the central senatorial district”.
“If the people of Kaduna central want us to provide our own kind of leadership and representation at the NASS, you should expect me back to Senate in 2027”.
According to him, his ambition is secondary while that of re-electing governor Sani for second term is primary.
He reiterated that his priority is to see governor Uba Sani re-elected in 2027.
“For now, we want to see that incumbent governor, Uba Sani is re-elected. We are going to do it with all our mights and strengths, we know that they are going to be challenges and opposition but we are well prepared for all the forces”.
Shehu Sani however, urged Muslims to pray for peace and unity of Nigeria during the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.
Sani who also reacted to killing of hunters in Edo State condemned the act and urged security agencies to fish-out the perpetrators.
He said, “If any citizen of this country cannot move from one part of the country to another, then we are not a nation.
“If someone will use one reason or another to take laws into his/her hand then it means there is no government or authority”.
He added that Nigerians who desire good for the country should work for peace and unity for the preservation of our democracy in the phase of challenges that is being experienced by our people, he said.
Sani however, called on government to save Nigeria, saying that there should be respect for fundamental rights and most importantly is respect to right to life, he added.