The steering committee of the Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement(MAYE) Working Group in Nigeria has urged those vying for elective positions in the forthcoming general elections to pay serious attention on the health and development needs of young Nigerians.
MAYE’s admonition was contained in an open letter to politicians signed by its Chairman, Olympus Ade-Banjo on Thursday, February 23, 2023.
The group said, there was need to bring to front burner issues of health and development needs of young people
along 7 key areas of development – health, education, economic empowerment, climate change, human
rights, transparency and inclusion.
It said, although a measured progress has been made across those areas
over the years, over 70% out-of-pocket health expenditure continues to impose financial obstacles to
access to health while less than half Nigerians are reported to have access to primary healthcare.
The group said, with the litany of issues confronting the young people in Nigeria, it was important to engage the political class so that appropriate preparations are made towards tackling them.
“Our ultimate request, is that political parties and their respective candidates consider these demands and incorporate them in the overall objectives of your potential administration while we assure you that the group would be available to provide support and hold your administrations accountable on behalf of the generality of young people in Nigeria.
“We call on the INEC to deliver on its promise of a free, fair and credible election even as the president so committed.
“We also use this opportunity to plead with all young people in Nigeria, to decry electoral violence before, during and after the elections.
“In addition to that, we must conduct ourselves as befitting leaders of tomorrow towards a common vision of a great and united Nigeria”, the group added.
