Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Youth Candidates in the 2019 Elections in Nigeria

The ‘Not Too Young to Run Act’ was signed into law in May 2018 to reduce the constitutional age requirements for running for office and to pave way for young Nigerians to participate actively in electoral politics. The signing of the Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari was the result of unrelenting and effective advocacy by Yiaga Africa and members of theNot Too Young to Run Movement. For the first time in Nigeria’s post independence history, young people between the ages of 25-30 were legally empowered to contest for seats in the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.

Yiaga Africa also launched the ‘Ready to Run Campaign’ to support young political candidates through all stages of the 2019 elections with technical resources, strategic networks, and media visibility. A key component of this novel undertaking was the ‘Ready to Run Platform’, the largest and the most comprehensive database on youth candidates running for office in the 2019 elections. In the build-up to the general elections, Yiaga Africa undertook an assessment of youth candidates’ campaign activities to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The SWOT analysis was designed to facilitate evidence-based and constructive advice to youth candidates. This report serves as a resource for supporting youth candidates and promotingyouth participation in politics.