Youth and Citizenship – SS3 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Youth citizenship is the active and responsible participation of young people in the life of their country.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain what youth citizenship means.
2. State why young people are important to democracy and name the challenges they face.
3. Describe how young people can strengthen democracy.
4. Explain innovation and give examples of youth innovation in Nigeria.
5. Explain volunteering and the ways young people can volunteer.
6. List the responsibilities of a young citizen.

Who are the youth?

Youth are young people, often defined in Nigeria as people aged 15 to 35.

• Size of the group: young people are about 60% of Nigeria’s population, so they are the largest age group.
• Power: large numbers give youth political influence, but only if they take part.
• Present role: youth are part of the present as well as the future of the country.

What is youth citizenship?

Youth citizenship is young people using their rights and carrying out their duties to build society.

A young citizen does the following:

• Participates in democracy: votes and joins political discussions.
• Cares about the community: pays attention to local problems.
• Contributes ideas: offers solutions to problems.
• Volunteers: gives time to help others.
• Holds leaders accountable: asks leaders to explain their actions.
• Respects the rights of others: treats all people fairly.
• Works for positive change: acts to improve the community and country.

Why are young people important to democracy?

Democracy depends on participation, so a country where young people take part is stronger.

• Future voters: young people will vote for decades, and their choices shape the direction of Nigeria.
• Challenge to bad leadership: young people often speak up first when leaders are corrupt or incompetent.
• Fresh ideas: young people ask “why” and “what if”, which brings new thinking.
• Digital skills: young people use social media and the internet to organise and share information quickly.
• Long-term interest: young people will live with the results of today’s decisions, so they think beyond the next election.

What are examples of youth action in Nigerian democracy?

• #BringBackOurGirls: after Boko Haram kidnapped the Chibok girls in 2014, young people used social media to keep pressure on the government.
• EndSARS: in 2020, young Nigerians protested against police brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which was then disbanded.
• Climate action: young people campaign for government to take climate change seriously.
• Election participation: when many young people register and vote, politicians pay attention to youth issues.

What challenges do young people face in democracy?

Young people face five main challenges in democracy.

• Apathy: some think “my vote does not matter” and stay at home on election day.
• Limited information: some do not know how to register, where to vote or what candidates stand for.
• Discouragement: some are told they are too young, or meet corruption, and give up.
• Limited access to leadership: age requirements and nepotism keep some young people out of leadership positions.
• Lack of trust: some believe elections are rigged and so stop taking part.

How can youth strengthen democracy?

Youth strengthen democracy by taking part in the political process in seven ways.

• Register and vote: citizens aged 18 and above register with INEC and vote in every election.
• Engage politically: attend rallies and ask candidates questions so that you make informed choices.
• Hold leaders accountable: demand transparency and use peaceful means, such as media and lawful protest, to press leaders.
• Educate yourself: read reliable news and learn about political issues.
• Encourage peers: urge friends to register, vote and take part.
• Take part in local issues: attend community meetings and vote in local elections.
• Pursue political careers: become a politician, civil servant or political analyst.

What is youth innovation?

Innovation is creating something new or improving something that already exists in order to solve a problem.

What are the types of innovation?

There are five types of youth innovation: technological, social, business, environmental and educational.

• Technological: new apps, devices and systems.
• Social: new programmes, organisations and movements.
• Business: new companies, products and services.
• Environmental: new solutions to environmental problems.
• Educational: new teaching methods and learning platforms.

Why do young people innovate?

• Tech-native: they grew up with technology and understand it well.
• Idealistic: they believe things can change.
• Creative: they connect ideas in new ways.
• Willing to take risks: they often have fewer commitments to lose.
• Motivated: they see problems and want to solve them.

What are examples of youth innovation in Nigeria?

• Flutterwave: a fintech company founded by young Nigerians that processes digital payments across Africa.
• Paystack: a payments platform founded by young Nigerians that helps businesses accept payments online.
• BudgIT: a civic technology organisation that helps citizens understand government budgets and track public spending.
• Educational apps: platforms for learning, including offline learning and vocational training.
• Solar energy solutions: affordable solar systems for homes and solar cookstoves.
• Agricultural technology: apps that link farmers to markets and give weather information.

How can youth innovate?

Youth innovate by following seven steps in order.

1. Identify a problem: note what frustrates you or what works badly.
2. Research solutions: find out what others have tried and what can be adapted.
3. Develop ideas: brainstorm freely, because unusual ideas can lead to good solutions.
4. Test the solution: start small and collect feedback.
5. Scale up: if it works, expand it to reach more people.
6. Seek support: find mentors, investors and partners.
7. Stay committed: expect failures and keep going.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is giving your time and effort to help others freely, without payment.

What are the types of volunteering?

There are six common types of volunteering.

• Community service: cleaning streets and helping to build or repair local facilities.
• Healthcare: helping the sick and teaching health practices.
• Education: tutoring and mentoring.
• Environmental: tree planting and conservation.
• Social work: helping vulnerable people.
• Disaster response: helping during floods and other emergencies.

Why does volunteering matter?

• Solves problems: volunteers fill gaps that government cannot fill alone.
• Builds community: young and old working together strengthen community bonds.
• Develops skills: volunteers learn leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and compassion.
• Creates change: many volunteers working together can transform a community.

What are examples of youth volunteering in Nigeria?

• Community cleanups: clearing waste from streets and waterways and teaching sanitation.
• Education support: tutoring weak students and teaching in rural schools.
• Healthcare outreach: teaching disease prevention in remote areas.
• Disaster response: sharing food and shelter after floods.
• Environmental conservation: planting trees and cleaning water bodies.
• Support for women and girls: teaching skills such as business and digital literacy.
• Mentorship: young professionals guiding younger people.
• Sports coaching: coaching in poor communities to keep young people busy and away from crime.

How can youth volunteer?

1. Choose a cause: education, environment, health or youth work.
2. Find an organisation: NGOs, religious groups and community groups need volunteers.
3. Start small: a few hours a month is enough at first.
4. Be reliable: arrive on time and do good work.
5. Learn and grow: ask to lead projects and take more responsibility.
6. Inspire others: invite friends to join you.
7. Give freely: do not ask for payment.

What are the responsibilities of a young citizen?

A young citizen has six main responsibilities.

• Participate: vote, attend community meetings and speak up instead of only complaining.
• Innovate: create jobs, services and solutions, and do more than consume.
• Serve: contribute to solving poverty, disease and environmental damage through work, volunteering and advocacy.
• Be ethical: do not exploit people, lie or cheat.
• Educate yourself: read reliable news and think critically.
• Respect diversity: build friendships across ethnic, religious and class lines.

What can young people achieve?

• In democracy: large youth voting forces politicians to address unemployment and education.
• In innovation: more young innovators create jobs and help Nigeria compete globally.
• In community service: many young volunteers help solve local problems.
• In leadership: young leaders bring energy, integrity and understanding of youth issues.
• In culture: young people leading in music, art and literature spread Nigeria’s influence abroad.

What obstacles do young people face, and how can they overcome them?

Obstacles are challenges to overcome, and they are not reasons to do nothing.

How can a young person start now?

A young person can start acting as a citizen today, without waiting to be older or employed.

• Register to vote: do so as soon as you turn 18.
• Volunteer: join a local group that works on a cause you care about.
• Think of an innovation: write down one problem and one possible solution.
• Engage with one issue: learn about it and discuss it with others.

Evaluation

1. Define youth citizenship and state the age range often used for youth in Nigeria.
2. Give four reasons why young people are important to democracy.
3. State three challenges young people face in democracy.
4. What is innovation? Name two examples of youth innovation in Nigeria.
5. List four responsibilities of a young citizen.

Assignment

Write a half-page personal action plan for a young citizen. State one problem you see in Nigeria, one innovation idea to solve it, one cause you would volunteer for, and one obstacle you may face with a way to overcome it.