On October 18, 2025, young Nigerians gathered virtually for a high-impact Twitter Space conversation titled “The Cost of Apathy: Why Young People Must Care About Governance.” The session, hosted by Paul Oluwadamilola Owoyemi, a Fellow of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF), was part of the Foundation’s Civic Engagement Project, an initiative designed to inspire, mobilize, and equip the next generation of Nigerians to transform governance beyond online conversations.
The event brought together a powerful lineup of thought leaders and advocates including Abiola Adesoye, Adewale Sodiq, Jones Feyisike Gbolayori, and Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo, with Ayoola Zainab Adebayo moderating the discussion. Together, they explored the dangers of political apathy, the illusion of online activism, and the urgent need for active participation in nation-building.
Key Outcomes
The conversation successfully mobilized young voices around the urgent need to transition from digital activism to tangible civic participation. Participants were equipped with actionable insights to strengthen their roles in democratic governance.
1. Increased Awareness of the Dangers of Apathy:
The discussion underscored how youth disengagement weakens democracy, reduces accountability, and allows poor leadership to thrive. Many participants acknowledged that political silence is a costly choice that perpetuates governance failure.
2. Digital-to-Real-Life Transition:
Speakers emphasized that hashtags and online outrage must lead to measurable civic impact. Young people were urged to channel their digital influence into community organizing, voter education, and consistent policy advocacy.
3. Strengthened Commitment to Accountability:
The session deepened understanding of how to demand transparency from leaders, track public budgets, and ensure elected officials deliver on promises. Listeners learned practical frameworks for monitoring governance outcomes.
4. Renewed Civic Mobilization:
The Twitter Space sparked momentum for grassroots engagement, inspiring participants to initiate or join accountability networks within their local communities.
Lessons Learnt
Several important lessons emerged from the conversation:
1. Apathy Has a Price:
The greatest threat to democracy is not bad leadership, it is the indifference of good citizens. Youth disengagement allows incompetence and corruption to go unchecked.
2. Real Change Begins Beyond Election Day:
Participants learned that democracy thrives not just at the polls but through continuous civic oversight, budget tracking, and policy dialogue after elections.
3. Social Media Is a Tool, Not the Destination:
While online spaces remain powerful platforms for advocacy, the conversation highlighted that true transformation happens when digital activism translates into community-level participation and leadership.
4. Accountability Is Everyone’s Responsibility:
Governance begins with citizens demanding transparency. Young people must redefine participation as an ongoing responsibility, not a seasonal activity.
Next Steps
Following the robust engagement, participants committed to moving from awareness to sustained civic action. The following next steps emerged:
1. Build Local Civic Networks:
Participants were encouraged to form or join community accountability groups that monitor local governance projects, elections, and policy implementation.
2. Strengthen Collaboration Between Youth Advocates:
The conversation created a foundation for future partnerships among participants and speakers to design civic education campaigns targeting unengaged youth.
3. Institutionalize Civic Education:
There was a strong call to integrate civic literacy into school and university programs, ensuring young Nigerians understand their roles in governance early.
4. Sustained Digital Engagement:
Participants agreed to keep the conversation alive online using official hashtags: #TheCostOfApathy, #CivicEngagement, #YouthCare, and #EmergingLeaders, to continue mobilizing peers toward collective civic responsibility.
Conclusion
The Twitter Space on “The Cost of Apathy” was more than a conversation, it was a rallying cry. It reaffirmed that the future of Nigeria depends on the active participation of its young citizens. As the session host, Paul Owoyemi, concluded, “Action is the antidote to despair.” The message was clear: apathy is no longer an option.
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