Nigerian youths have become increasingly vocal in demanding accountability from leaders, using platforms such as the social media, protests and civic advocacy to push for transparency and good governance. Yet, despite these visible efforts, questions persist about whether such actions are consistent and impactful enough to drive a lasting change, or not.
WEEKEND HOPE spoke with some individuals on the issue.
Excerpts:
By Oluwadamilare Olalusi
Nigerian youths are making efforts to hold leaders accountable, especially through protests, social media activism and increased political awareness. Movements like #EndSARS showed that young people can speak up and demand change.
However, it is still not enough. Many youths are active online but less consistent when it comes to voting, civic engagement and long term political participation. For real accountability, there is needs for more sustained involvement beyond protests like voting regularly, engaging in governance, and pushing for change at all levels. Overall, there is progress, but more commitment and consistency are needed.
Nigerian youths are increasingly active in demanding accountability, yet face structural barriers. Over 80 percent of youths cite lack of funding and resources as the biggest obstacle to holding leaders accountable. Additionally, 76 percent identify age-based stereotypes as a factor restricting their involvement in decision-making.
While some believe that the accountability efforts from youths are not sufficient owing to lack of deep, sustained engagement, there is a strong call for youths to move beyond protest and get involved in politics to effect change from within. This will reshape the way the leaders see the youth.
Okikiola
Nigerian youths have successfully transitioned from passive observers to active digital watchdogs, using social media to bypass traditional gatekeepers and hold leaders accountable in real-time. This newfound “political awakening” is most visible in movements like #EndSARS and increased voter registration, where young people have demonstrated a sophisticated ability to organise, raise fund and document government overreach. By turning the internet into a 24/7 courtroom, they have made it increasingly difficult for officials to operate in total secrecy, effectively shifting the national consciousness toward transparency.
However, a significant gap remains between online advocacy and sustained grassroots impact. Critics argue that accountability efforts are often top-heavy—focusing intensely on the presidency while ignoring local government chairmen— and are frequently hamstrung by economic hardship, which forces many to prioritise immediate survival over long-term reform. While the youth have mastered the art of making leaders “uncomfortable,” the consensus suggests that true accountability will only be achieved when digital passion translates into consistent, year-round monitoring of local budgets and community-level governance.
Nigerian youths are taking steps to hold leaders accountable, but there is still room for improvement.
Initiatives like Youth GovTracka and the Nigerian Youth Future Funds project are empowering young people to demand accountability and civic participation from their leaders.
These efforts include training youth leaders, social media campaigns, and town hall meetings to promote transparency and good governance.
However, challenges persist, including limited access to resources, political exclusion, and apathy. To make a greater impact, Nigerian youths can continue to leverage technology, build alliances and engage in constructive criticism of government policies.
Nigerian youths are not doing enough to hold leaders accountable, and even the little being done is often misdirected.
Many are distracted, confused and driven by personal interests rather than a clear understanding of governance. Important issues fade quickly, while attention is focused on the wrong targets, leaving real accountability gaps, especially at local levels.
Lack of unity, poor awareness and deep tribal and religious divisions continue to weaken collective action. Many criticise leadership without fully understanding how the system works, while hypocrisy and misplaced priorities slow down real progress.
Honestly, I don’t think Nigerian youths are doing enough to hold leaders accountable. While it is easy to point fingers at those in power, many young people also play a role in enabling poor leadership.
For example, during elections, some youths still engage in vote-buying or allow themselves to be influenced by money, tribe or short-term benefits instead of focusing on competence and integrity.
Beyond national politics, even in higher institutions, student politics reflects the same issues.
We see cases where students support candidates based on personal gain, popularity or alliances rather than capability. There are also situations where student leaders are not held accountable for their actions once elected, and many students remain indifferent instead of demanding transparency.
Additionally, a lot of youths are active on social media, but that energy doesn’t always translate into real civic engagement like voting, peaceful advocacy or community involvement.
I would say Nigerian youths are making efforts, but we’re not doing enough yet. We’ve seen our strength during moments like the End SARS protests, but the energy hasn’t been sustained.
Most of the time, it ends on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram which give us a voice, but accountability goes beyond posting.
We need to be more consistent with voting, civic engagement and demanding results.
So yes, we’ve started something, but there’s still a lot more to be done.
Olaolorunpo Olaposi
Nigerian youths are increasingly vocal about governance, especially on platforms like Twitter (X), Instagram, and TikTok. The #EndSARS movement showed their ability to demand accountability.
However, many argue that online activism is not enough, as fewer youths engage in voting or political processes. Challenges like fear, unemployment, and lack of trust also limit participation.
In conclusion, while efforts are being made, Nigerian youths need more active involvement beyond social media to truly hold leaders accountable