The Vice President, West Africa, Pan-African Youth Union (PYU), Oladele John Nihi, has urged African Youths to get involved in politics.
He said they can no longer afford to take the back seat in governance on the continent.
Nihi spoke this while welcoming delegates across West Africa and Sahel region to the Annual West African and Sahel Youth Forum holding in Abuja, Nigeria.
Its theme is Young women and men at the heart of innovation and the construction of peaceful and resilient societies.
He said: “There is no doubt that Africa is a continent with massive youth demography as about 70 per cent of the population of Africa are youths.
“All the problems bedevilling us today in Africa are anchored on leadership. It is time for African youths to be involved in the decision-making table of our continent.
“With vibrant and dynamic political leaders piloting the affairs of governance across all the member states, no doubt Africa and Africans will sing new song progress, development and a peaceful continent.
“As we deliberate on the theme of this year’s forum, we must understand that anything for the youths without the youths is not for the youths.
“Therefore, I commend the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) for putting this forum together annually for Youths of West Africa and Sahel region.”
This event is organised by United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) in collaboration with ECOWAS and with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
