Prince Adewole Adebayo has urged Nigerian youths to become more active in politics and take greater responsibility for the country’s future.
Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, made the call during an interaction with young professionals and members of the Confederation of West African Youths in Abuja.
He urged young Nigerians to move beyond political discussions and become involved in the communities where political decisions take shape.
Adebayo said meaningful change would require young professionals to participate directly in the political process. He also encouraged them to understand the responsibilities that come with political engagement.
Adebayo urges Nigerian youths to take ownership
Speaking at the SDP national secretariat, Adebayo said young Nigerians should take ownership of the country’s political future.
He argued that political participation should not remain limited to conversations among professionals, academics or social media users.
According to him, young professionals should become active in their communities and contribute to solving problems that affect Nigerians.
Adebayo said political authority ultimately comes from the people. He therefore argued that citizens cannot effectively influence national development while remaining detached from politics.
His comments come as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
The SDP has also been promoting youth participation as part of its wider political mobilisation. SDP holds national convention to consolidate its 2027 manifesto
Adebayo’s call also focused on the need for young Nigerians to participate at the grassroots.
He said political engagement should extend beyond public debates and translate into direct interaction with voters and communities.
Politics requires grassroots participation
Adebayo said young professionals should understand how political structures operate within their communities.
He argued that influence becomes meaningful when it reaches ordinary citizens and addresses their concerns.
The SDP candidate said young Nigerians should not leave political leadership entirely to older generations.
Instead, he urged them to participate in political parties, community activities and the wider democratic process.
Adebayo also referenced Chapter Two of the Nigerian Constitution. He said its Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy should guide political engagement.
Chapter Two contains provisions covering areas such as the welfare, security and economic development of Nigerians.
Adebayo said young professionals should understand these constitutional principles before seeking to influence government and public policy.
The SDP has previously centred its political messaging on poverty reduction, security and human development. Adebayo unveils 2027 blueprint to address poverty and insecurity
Adebayo says Nigeria’s challenges can be solved
Adebayo argued that Nigeria’s development problems are not caused by natural limitations.
He said the country has resources and neighbouring countries that provide a favourable environment for development.
According to him, many of the challenges facing Nigeria are man-made. He therefore believes they can be addressed through deliberate political action.
“This country has no natural barrier, no natural limitation, no natural enemies, and we are surrounded by good neighbours who love us,” he said.
Adebayo said the country needs unity of purpose to make meaningful progress.
He argued that individual brilliance alone cannot solve national problems without a structure that brings capable people together.
His position places emphasis on institutions, political participation and leadership development.
The candidate has also previously presented a policy blueprint titled Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity, which focuses on governance, human development and economic productivity. Adebayo presents SDP manifesto for a new Nigeria
SDP candidate criticises political apathy
Adebayo also urged young professionals to reject political apathy.
He said disengagement would make it difficult for citizens to influence the direction of government.
According to him, people who want better governance must be willing to participate in the process that produces political leaders.
He encouraged young Nigerians to move from observing politics to becoming active participants.
The message also reflects the wider concern over youth involvement in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Young Nigerians make up a significant part of the country’s population, while political parties regularly seek their support during elections.
Adebayo said their involvement should go beyond voting during elections.
He wants young professionals to participate in political organisations and engage citizens within their communities.
This approach is similar to calls from other political actors for stronger grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election. Wike responds to Uzodimma over Rainbow Coalition
Adebayo compares politics with professional training
The SDP candidate also spoke about the development of political leaders.
He said Nigeria lacks a deliberate system for training people who want to enter politics.
Adebayo compared politics with professions such as law.
According to him, lawyers undergo formal education and professional training before they begin practising.
He argued that political leadership should also have a structured pathway for developing capable leaders.
Adebayo described political parties as the “university” through which political leaders should be cultivated.
He said political parties should therefore serve as institutions where people learn leadership, public policy and governance.
His argument centres on the need for political parties to develop leaders before they assume public responsibilities.
The SDP has recently continued to promote its policy agenda ahead of the 2027 election. SDP unveils blueprint to tackle poverty and insecurity
Young professionals urged to engage communities
Adebayo’s meeting with the youth groups also highlighted the importance of community engagement.
He urged young professionals to use their knowledge and experience to contribute to political development.
Rather than remaining observers, he wants them to engage directly with voters and residents.
The approach places emphasis on political participation at the community level.
It also comes as political parties continue to build structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The SDP has asked its members to strengthen structures from the national level down to local communities. SDP national convention focuses on 2027 election preparations
Adebayo said young Nigerians should understand that political decisions affect their daily lives.
Issues such as employment, security, education and economic opportunities are influenced by government policies.
He therefore encouraged young professionals to take a greater interest in how those policies are formulated.
Adebayo links leadership to national development
Adebayo said Nigeria’s development challenges require capable leadership and organised political participation.
He argued that the country has enough resources to achieve development but needs effective systems to translate those resources into better living conditions.
His comments form part of his broader argument that Nigeria’s challenges are primarily political and institutional.
The SDP candidate has previously placed poverty and insecurity at the centre of his 2027 policy messaging.
He presented his Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity blueprint in Abuja earlier in September. The document outlines proposed approaches to governance, economic productivity, human development and infrastructure. Adebayo unveils blueprint with security and welfare at its core
Adebayo said young professionals have an important role to play in determining whether such political ideas receive public attention.
He urged them to participate in conversations about Nigeria’s future while also engaging citizens directly.
SDP continues youth mobilisation
The meeting in Abuja forms part of the SDP’s wider engagement with young Nigerians.
The party has continued to hold meetings and policy discussions as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 general election.
Adebayo has also used recent engagements to speak about poverty, insecurity and governance.
The party says its policy direction is built around social justice, inclusion and equal opportunities. SDP convention highlights social justice and equal opportunities
Youth organisations have also continued to demand greater opportunities to participate in governance.
For many young Nigerians, political participation extends beyond contesting elections. It can include civic engagement, policy discussions, community organising and voter education.
Adebayo’s message was therefore centred on encouraging young professionals to become more involved in these activities.
Politics, according to Adebayo, must go beyond words
Adebayo’s central message was that political participation requires action.
He urged young Nigerians to take their political engagement into their communities rather than limiting it to conversations.
He also challenged them to see politics as a means of addressing issues affecting society.
The SDP candidate said Nigeria needs a generation of leaders who understand the country’s challenges and can build structured solutions.
He maintained that young professionals have the knowledge and capacity to contribute to that process.
His comments add to the growing political conversation around youth participation ahead of the 2027 general election.
As political parties continue their mobilisation, young Nigerians remain an important audience for competing political messages.
Adebayo’s appeal is for that participation to become more organised, community-based and focused on governance.
The SDP has also continued to promote its policy proposals as part of its preparations for the next general election. Peter Mbah unveils 10,000+ achievements and $30bn Enugu economy target
The party’s activities will continue as candidates and political organisations engage voters across the country.
For Adebayo, however, the immediate message to young professionals remains clear: political influence should extend beyond words and into active participation within communities.
