The British High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Paul Arkwright has commended YIAGA Africa and young Nigerians for securing the passage of the Age Reduction Bill, popularly referred to as #NotTooYoungToRun Bill by both National and State Houses of Assembly, as the bill awaits Presidential assent.
Mr. Arkwright stated this during the ‘Commonwealth Big Lunch event’ Thursday in Abuja with participants from various Youth Organizations in attendance, including YIAGA Africa.
Arkwright noted that the Big Lunch event in Nigeria is themed around youths who are important to the Commonwealth as 60 percent of Commonwealth Nations citizens are below 30 years of age, while40 percent of the world youth live in Commonwealth countries and one billion people living in Commonwealth countries are under 25 years of age.
Citing example of efforts of young people in Nigeria, the High Commissioner said, “For example, you should all be proud of your role to secure the passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, a reform that has been long overdue and a reform that I and a number of other High Commissioners here present have also supported. I was delighted to meet the YIAGA Group earlier and many congratulations to you for pushing through. I hope that it leads and open the doors to greater youth participation in politics and in policy making throughout Nigeria.
“Activities of youth organizations are very important to the Commonwealth and matters to the future of Nigeria. British Prime Minister Theresa May have put youth at the heart of the upcoming Commonwealth Summit in London. She has invited youth delegates to address commonwealth leaders in New York in September to talk about their vision for the Commonwealth.
“The future of Nigeria is the future of young people and if young people are not included in that debate, then the future of Nigeria will but be a happy one. I am confident that it will be a happy one because people like you will be involved and I encourage you to stay involved and get involved in elections and vote. Make sure your votes count,” he said.
