By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD
The agitation for greater youth involvement in governance resulted in the “Not Too Young to Run” Movement in Nigeria. Youth from all parts of the country deployed the social media essentially to seek increased participation in governmental roles and positions and this outcry received legislative attention during the Buhari-led administration.
Passed into law in May 2018, the “Not Too Young to Run” provision allows younger candidates to contest for President (40 to 35), House of Representatives (30 to 25), and State House of Assembly (30 to 25). Although the electoral/political clime has not conspicuously changed in terms of the election of youth into offices at state and federal tiers, there is a commendable increase in the appointment of youth at all levels of governance in Nigeria. It is reported that by mid-2025 into 2026, the federal government of Nigeria received more favourable assessments regarding youth inclusion, with several appointments in the 30–45 age bracket occupying key roles in ministries and agencies.
In Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has also largely included the youth in his cabinet with many special advisers being below 40 years. This youth involvement culture got properly entrenched into the local government administration in Lagos State. Although there is no publicly announced statistics on the percentage of youth in local government appointments in Lagos State after the 2025 local government election, it is beyond doubt that a good number of youth are currently serving as councillors, supervisors and chiefs of staff in Lagos.
The question that follows is: now that “the not too young to run” are now in the corridors of authority, what can we do differently?
It is important for young Nigerians holding political offices to think of their appointments as a test of trust. Trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something, essentially involving confidence and reliance. It implies placing faith in a person’s integrity and counting on their dignity. Like Ezeulu in Achebe’s “Arrow of God” who said to his son, “go and be my eye and ear among those people”, you too must understand that your small number stands as the eye and ear of over 100 million of us youth in the country. Your appointment is a slot and a slot not well used can be forever lost. YOU MUST NOT FAIL THE REST OF US! Your mandate is to make impact and not to create impression. Some believe politics and polity would get worse in Nigeria when the youth are at the helm. It is time to validate or disprove the claim.
In closing, now that we are getting in the race of governance as youth, we must run with a sense of FOCUS, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY and EMPATHY. We must be guided by the UBUNTU spirit: you are because we are!
Long live Nigeria!
Long live her youth!
(c) 2026 Ganiu Bamgbose writes from Lagos.
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose, PhD
Department of English,
Lagos State University, Ojo
[email protected]
08093695359, 07084956118
