YIAGA Africa has promised $20,000 to any federal or state lawmaker who makes a mark in legislative duties.Executive Director, Samson Itodo, made the pledge in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at a programme with the theme: ‘Convergence 5.0: Nigeria’s Largest Gathering of Young Legislators’.
He said lawmakers that would qualify for the prize money must be under 35 years of age and would be assessed based on the number of bills sponsored and contributions to legislative proceedings.
Itodo decried poor level of political participation among youths in the country, despite enactment of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act. He said he believed the prize would spur young Nigerians to vie for elective offices and contribute their quota to nation building.
Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, corroborated Itodo’s position, when she said Convergence 5.0 represents the largest gathering of young legislators in Nigeria, a platform created for young legislators to learn from experts how best to deliver leadership.
She said the platform is for young elected representatives to learn how to build power and navigate politics in national and state legislatures. Mbamalu lamented that despite the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act put in place by the last administration, prospects of having more young people in politics have not been encouraging.
She said: “In 2019, we celebrated about 13 young people in the House of Representatives, which was a far increase from where we were in 2015. We also had 20 young people, who were under 30 years old who won elections in 2019 in state Assemblies, including two women who were under 35 years.
“In 2023, we hoped for better. But, yes, it did not go the way we were expecting but we still have things to celebrate. For the first time, since our transition to democracy in 1999, we can proudly say that in the House of Representatives, we have two lawmakers who are between 25 and 29 years old, the youngest ever! That is progress but not enough.
“This is because in the House of Representatives, we have 14 under-35 years old, who won elections. At the state level, there are 92 under-35 years old, who won. For women, it is still a sad story, as we have four lawmakers who are under 35 years.”
