“Leadership is not just about being the head and dishing out roles; it is accepting responsibility to help others achieve a purpose.” This defining statement spoken by Mrs. Anthonia Onda, Senior Programme Officer at Yiaga Africa, wasn’t just a passing remark—it was the heartbeat of a transformative initiative that swept through two Nigerian universities with launch of the Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) Hubs at Imo State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Rivers State—an initiative backed by the Open Society Foundations to ignite political consciousness and cultivate leadership among Nigerian students.
These hubs, birthed under Yiaga Africa’s Citizens Deliver Project, are working platforms where students are empowered to become change agents in their schools and communities. With Nigeria’s youth making up the largest demographic—over 70% in Sub-Saharan Africa—the hubs are designed to channel the energy of this mass population into meaningful civic action. From brainstorming political reform ideas to hosting community democracy projects, the Imo State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Rivers State students were trained to both speak and take action as leaders, organisers, and advocates for democratic values.
As suspense filled the air at the twin inaugurations in Owerri and Port Harcourt, it was clear that this wasn’t just another event—it was a spark designed to catch fire. In Owerri, Onda laid out the vision clearly: the hubs will serve as student-run think-tanks where leadership, political participation, and democratic principles aren’t just taught—they’re practised. The students “are expected to hold meetings, develop creative ways to engage their peers, and design project ideas that push democracy forward in their schools and surrounding communities,” she explained.
In Rivers State, Onda reiterated Yiaga Africa’s commitment to restoring trust in governance through grassroots participation. “The only way to build trust in the political process is to have young people participate at different levels,” she said. For Yiaga, these hubs are about more than awareness—they are about action. They are about legacy.
Olaniyan Sanusi, Yiaga’s Programme Officer for Citizens Engagement, built on that momentum during his sessions. He exposed the students to the roots of the Not Too Young to Run movement, which successfully amended Nigeria’s constitution to reduce age eligibility for political office. It wasn’t just a history lesson—it was a call to reimagine the future. “Transformative politics,” he urged, “means leaving behind the old ways that prioritise personal interest and embracing leadership that reflects the will of the people.”
And the students? They weren’t just listening—they were awakening. Chikwendu Chinazo, a 400-level Political Science student in Imo, said the initiative had opened her eyes to her political potential. In Rivers, George Joshua, a 200-level student, declared: “We the youths are important in the political system despite all odds.” Emmanuel Anyanwu, studying Law, summed it up in words that echoed the ambition of the entire programme: “Today I resolve to involve myself in the future to help change the system.”
The beauty of these moments wasn’t just in what was said, but in the promise they hold. A new movement is being formed on Nigeria’s campuses—not driven by slogans, but by conviction; not rooted in power, but in purpose. And if last week was any indication, these hubs may very well become the breeding ground for the next generation of leaders—leaders who understand that true leadership begins not with titles, but with responsibility.
As Yiaga Africa, with the support of the Open Society Foundations, rolls out more hubs across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, one thing is certain: the future is no longer waiting—it’s organising.
