Why Young Nigerians Are Fed Up With AU's 'Papa Politicians'

Photo: Abcnews.com

My people, make we talk true talk about this African Union matter wey dey cause wahala for many young Nigerians. As the AU summit dey happen for Ethiopia, our young people dey vex say the same old faces still dey run African affairs like dem born am for there.

The Anger Wey Young Nigerians Get

If you dey social media these days, you go see say many Nigerian youths dey complain say AU leadership still dey look like their grandfather's generation. From Cameroon's Paul Biya wey don rule for almost 42 years, to Uganda's Yoweri Museveni wey don dey power since 1986, young Nigerians dey ask: 'When our own turn go reach?'

Chidi Okwu, a 28-year-old tech entrepreneur from Lagos, tell us say 'These old men no understand wetin we dey face for this digital age. How dem wan solve youth unemployment when dem never use smartphone properly?' His frustration dey reflect wetin many young Nigerians dey feel about continental leadership.

Nigeria's Position for the Continental Game

As Africa's most populous country with over 200 million people and the largest economy, Nigeria supposed dey lead by example. But our own leadership struggles dey make young people question whether we fit influence positive change for AU level.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite being one of the younger leaders for African standards at 72, still dey face criticism from Nigerian youths wey feel say even him too old to understand their challenges. 'How person wey never dey use TikTok wan represent us for continental level?' one university student from Ibadan ask us.

The Statistics Wey Dey Pain Young People

According to recent data, about 60% of Africa's population dey below 25 years old, but only handful of African leaders dey below 50 years. For Nigeria specifically, over 70% of our population dey below 30 years, yet political leadership dey dominated by people wey pass 60 years.

This demographic disconnect dey create serious trust issues. Many young Nigerians we interview talk say they no longer see AU as relevant to their daily struggles with unemployment, poor infrastructure, and limited opportunities.

Wetin Young Nigerians Want See

From our investigation, we discover say young Nigerians get specific expectations for AU leadership:

• More focus on technology and digital innovation policies
• Youth inclusion in decision-making processes
• Better intra-African trade policies wey go create jobs
• Educational exchange programs wey go boost skills development
• Climate change initiatives wey go protect their future

The Continental Influence Wahala

Nigeria's influence for AU dey suffer as young people lose faith in both local and continental leadership. When your own youth no dey believe in your leadership capacity, how you wan convince other African countries say you fit lead?

Dr. Amina Hassan, a political analyst from University of Lagos, explain say 'Nigeria's soft power for Africa dey reduce because our young people no dey see themselves reflected in continental conversations. This na serious problem for our diplomatic influence.'

The irony be say Nigeria get some of the most innovative young minds for Africa - from fintech pioneers to creative industry leaders - but these voices no dey heard for AU conversations.

Social Media Reactions Wey Dey Trend

For Twitter and Instagram, Nigerian youths dey use hashtags like #AUForYoung and #NotMyAU to express their frustration. One viral tweet read: 'AU summit again with the same old faces discussing Africa's future without asking the people wey go live that future.'

Even for LinkedIn, young Nigerian professionals dey create alternative forums to discuss African development without waiting for AU leadership approval.

Wetin This Mean for Nigeria Going Forward

If Nigeria wan maintain its position as Africa's giant, we need to address this youth alienation quick-quick. Our continental influence dey depend on how well we can represent the aspirations of Africa's young population.

The AU summit for Ethiopia might be discussing important policies, but if majority of Africa's population - the youth - no dey buy into the vision, then wetin be the point?

Young Nigerians dey send clear message: they want leadership wey understand technology, climate change, and modern economic realities. Until AU leadership change to reflect these priorities, the bloc go continue to lose relevance among the people wey matter most for Africa's future.

As one young Nigerian entrepreneur put am, 'We no dey wait for permission to build the Africa we want. If AU no go change, we go create our own platforms.' And that one, my people, na the real challenge wey AU must face.