Youth Marginalisation in Political Leadership and Governance in Nigeria From 1999-2019

Abstract

As the Nigerian population grows, so does the number of young people. Nigeria has a young population of 52.2 million (approximately 28 per cent of the overall population), which is more than the populations of Ghana, London, and the Benin Republic combined. Despite this figure's opportunities, young people in Nigeria are overwhelmingly excluded from government, leaving them unable to combat their persistent marginalization. This is demonstrated by the lower proportion of youngsters in political and leadership roles in the country. This study aimed to investigate the link between young political involvement, effective governance, and social inclusion in Nigeria. The study is significant due to the fact that it will bring to the awareness of the public the important role of the youth in leadership and governance positions. The study further uses the procedural democratic theory (PDT) of governance; civic engagement with political concerns.