Speakers at the one-day symposium tagged “Youth Engagement Campaign” have advocated the need for young people to participate actively in politics to become leaders of tomorrow.

The program was organized by Madiba Foundation, a nongovernmental organization, held at Sawalino Hotel Keffi, Saturday.

The one-day symposium on Youth Engagement Campaign with the Theme: I pledge to vote, drew participants who are mostly youths from Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja among other places, who were mobilized to believe and work toward realizing a new Nigeria.

First to make his submission was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), Barrister Ibrahim Adamu Abdullahi, who lamented that young people have been used as thugs in previous elections, calling on them to desist from such act and work towards making Nigeria great by voting the right people into power.

On her part, the Ambassador of COVID-19 Amina Aminu stressed the need for women to use the opportunity to vote even if they cannot aspire for any position, maintaining that they cannot achieve that without the permanent voter’s card, urging those that have not registered to do so before the expiration of the period.

To National coordinator Coordinator, Nigeria Farmers group and cooperative society, who is also Managing director, Gaate Farm, Kokona Local government, Mr. Tedheke Retson, urged Nigerians to first deal with the issue of vote-buying that is always experienced in previous elections before the the the making it right in the 2023 general election.

Speaking in an interview, the chief operating officer, Madiba foundation for good governance, Fredrick Adetiba, told the youth that it is important to be part of the electoral process and also vital for them to involve in the process of governance even after the election to drive development and hold leaders at all levels accountable.

Frederick then appreciated the support of all that contributed to the program, Nasarawa state is the first point to kicked start the campaign on the voting process, calling on the general public to get their permanent voters card to enable them to exercise their franchise.

He said Madiba Foundation provides the framework and platform for young people to be involved in promoting and driving development and good governance in Nigeria just as popular Abuja-based musicians Styl Plus’ and others entertained the audience, advocating for active participation of youth in the general election.