Date: 6th November 2025
Venue: Office of the Deputy Speaker, National Assembly, Abuja
Introduction
As part of activities marking the 2025 Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF) Residential Bootcamp, Fellows of the programme under The Bridge Leadership Foundation (TBLF) paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, at the National Assembly, Abuja. The visit provided the Fellows with firsthand exposure to Nigeria’s legislative processes and an opportunity to engage with the Deputy Speaker on the role of young leaders in governance, nation building, and democratic reform.
In his address, the Deputy Speaker commended The Bridge Leadership Foundation for its sustained commitment to nurturing competent, ethical, and visionary leaders. He challenged the Fellows to embrace leadership as a responsibility rooted in service, courage, and integrity. Below are excerpts from his remarks:
Deputy Speaker’s Remarks
[Protocol and Welcome]
It is both an honour and a privilege to welcome you to the People’s House, a place where the aspirations of over 220 million Nigerians converge in debate, deliberation, and decision.
Today, I see before me a gathering of young leaders who represent the conscience, courage, and promise of our nation. You are here because you have chosen leadership not as a privilege but as a responsibility, not as a platform for self, but as a platform for service. That distinction matters more than you may realise.
Reflections on Leadership and Service
Leadership, my friends, is not a ceremonial title. It is the art of service, the practice of wisdom, and the courage to act in the face of uncertainty. It is tested in moments of decision, not in moments of applause. As a lawyer and a parliamentarian, I have come to understand that the power to legislate carries with it an obligation to be measured, principled, and relentless in the pursuit of justice. Understanding the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership, we must now confront the reality before us, one that demands courage, clarity, and the full engagement of Nigeria’s greatest asset, its youth.
The Stakes for Youth and Democracy
Fellows, Nigeria is remarkably young. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), nearly 70 percent of our population is under 35. Globally, youth number almost 1.8 billion, and in Africa, over 60 percent are under 25.
Yet despite this demographic advantage, youth remain underrepresented in governance. In the 10th National Assembly, fewer than 4 percent of seats are held by Nigerians under 35 (INEC, 2023). Less than 1 percent of elected positions nationwide are occupied by young people (NILDS). This gap is a call to action. Our generation must lead with courage, competence, and integrity because the future cannot wait.
Youth Inclusion: Legislative and Federal Government Initiatives
Since its inauguration, the 10th House of Representatives has prioritised youth inclusion as a central legislative focus. The House has sponsored and advanced key bills aimed at empowering young Nigerians, including proposals to:
- Facilitate easier access to political office for youth by strengthening party nomination processes and reducing structural barriers, building on the Not Too Young To Run Act.
- Enhance youth participation in governance through institutionalised mentorship programmes, internship placements, and inclusion in committee hearings.
- Support skills development and entrepreneurship initiatives, linking legislative oversight to programmes that increase youth economic participation.
At the same time, the Federal Government’s policies are aligning to complement these legislative efforts through the National Youth Investment Fund, National Youth Service enhancements, and targeted empowerment schemes.
Notably, the Federal Government has committed to achieving a 30 percent youth inclusion target in governance. These measures signal a deliberate shift toward integrating young Nigerians into decision making and national development.
The Constitution Review Committee: Reforming for Inclusion
In my capacity as Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, I must remind you that constitutional reform is not a theoretical exercise. It is the architecture of our democracy and the scaffolding of our institutions. Our Committee has developed a compendium of 86 bills across 13 thematic areas, including governance, devolution, legislative oversight, and inclusive representation. This process invites your active participation. Attend the zonal hearings, submit memoranda, advocate for youth voice and women’s leadership, and ensure our laws mirror the nation as we are, not as we were.
Our national reform agenda must advance three imperatives:
- Representation that mirrors our population demographics.
- Institutions that function with integrity and transparency.
- Governance that invites citizen participation rather than excludes it.
That agenda is yours to carry forward.
Youth Leadership and Lessons from Parliamentary Practice
Fellows, constitutional reform provides the structure of governance, but leadership in practice determines the outcomes. True leadership is measured by one’s ability to translate ideas into action, to negotiate across differences without compromising principle, and to ensure that policies achieve tangible results. It is tested in the chamber, in committee rooms, and in every encounter with the citizenry. Emerging leaders must understand that influence is earned, not inherited. Political courage, strategic thinking, and competence define enduring leadership. Commit to lifelong learning. For instance, I recently completed my PhD and continue to undertake courses to sharpen my skills because effective leadership demands continuous growth in knowledge, judgment, and perspective. Your credibility as leaders will be judged not by ambition alone, but by preparation, wisdom, and the impact you create.
The House of Representatives is the People’s House, and my office is open to you. Engage actively with the opportunities before you, participate in dialogues, attend civic forums, contribute to policy discussions, and bring your voices into spaces where decisions are made. Your generation must close the gap between demographic strength and political influence, ensuring that youth perspectives are central, not peripheral, to national development.
Conclusion: A Vision for the Future
Fellows, this is your moment to rise.
You have been brought together by The Bridge Leadership Foundation because they recognise in you the potential to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s youthful energy and meaningful political influence, to inject innovation, accountability, and vision into our democracy.
I commend the Foundation for creating a platform that instils knowledge, ethics, and civic responsibility.
I also salute former Governor Liyel Imoke for his sustained vision, mentorship, and legacy of quiet, effective statesmanship, proof that true leadership extends beyond tenure and is measured by the lasting impact one leaves on people and institutions.
Fellows of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship, the responsibility you now inherit is profound. Step forward with integrity, serve with humility, reform with courage, and lead with wisdom.
Your actions today will shape the Nigeria of tomorrow. The future of our democracy rests in your hands. Make it worthy of the trust, hope, and expectations of the Nigerian people.
Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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