By By Ademola Ajao
OMOLARA Svensson, Managing Director of OOK Farms, has urged Nigerian youths to participate actively in politics and play decisive roles in shaping the country’s future.
Svensson, who also serves as President of the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progressive and Development Initiative, stressed the need for greater attention to electoral processes, describing them as critical to Nigeria’s progress and development.
Speaking at an event in Ibadan recently, themed “Youths in Politics Sensitisation: Understanding the Role of Youths in Politics”, Svensson delivered a lecture titled “Seed of Change: Young Nigerians and the Future of Democracy.”
She noted that self-discovery is a vital journey for young people, as it teaches them to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
“Youths must ask questions and find a worthy mentor — someone who lives a valuable life, whose track record shows how they got to where they are today,” she said.
On decision-making in governance, Svensson urged young Nigerians to be intentional about participating in the process.
“Most importantly, be intentional about discovering yourself. By the time you are done with self-discovery, you will understand why you have an important role to play in active politics,” she emphasised.
Highlighting why youth participation matters, she added: “Numbers are important. Young people account for the majority of voters and consumers; their priorities shape the economy, education, technology, and culture. If they do not take the initiative, decisions will be made for them rather than by them.”
On a campaign checklist for aspiring young politicians, Svensson advised:
Register with INEC and confirm polling unit records.
Join and engage with a preferred political party early, starting from the ward level.
Build a mentor and advisory circle.
Create a 90-day mobilisation plan (door-to-door, markets, online calendar).
Secure legal cover and a safety plan (including incident reporting contacts).
Launch small-donor crowdfunding (community rallies and online campaigns).
Recruit and train volunteers for get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts.
Also speaking at the event, Basorun Ogundele, a leader from Egbeda Local Government, observed that young people make up the majority of Nigeria’s population. He lamented that much of the nation’s challenges stem from recycling the same political actors.
“In Nigeria, those who have been in government for 50, 40, or 30 years are still the same set of people we keep recycling. That is why we continue to get old results in a new era,” he remarked.
“We need vibrant youths who can introduce fresh innovations into the system. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expect different results. There is a need for our youths to take over,” Ogundele added.
What's your reaction?
