Edo NYAN Leader Aghatise Prioritises Youth Empowerment, Eyes State Assembly, Senate, Governorship
The Edo South Senatorial Leader of the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), Hon. Nosakhare B. Aghatise, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth empowerment, economic development, political inclusion and accountable leadership, outlining a vision to expand opportunities for young people across Edo State.
Speaking on his activities and political aspirations, Aghatise said his approach to leadership was driven by the need to move beyond advocacy and translate promises into practical programmes that would improve the lives of young people.
He disclosed that since assuming office as the Edo South Senatorial Leader of NYAN, he had prioritised voter education and active youth participation in the democratic process through grassroots mobilisation and engagement with community leaders.
According to him, the initiative involved consultations with community heads, traditional rulers and youth leaders to encourage young people to participate in the voter registration exercise, which has been concluded.
He also revealed that NYAN had engaged departmental and faculty leaders at the University of Benin to sensitise students to the importance of obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participating actively in elections.
Beyond political awareness, Aghatise said the organisation was preparing for an Edo Youth Summit scheduled for November, which would provide a platform for leadership development, youth engagement, economic empowerment and discussions on the challenges confronting young people.
He explained that the summit, organised by NYAN, would feature discussions on youth unemployment and economic opportunities, with special keynote speakers selected to address issues affecting the economic well-being of young people.
The programme is also expected to include the distribution of laptops and other support to participating youths as part of efforts to promote development, inclusion and access to opportunities.
He stressed that youth development required deliberate investment in human capital, adding that initiatives such as the summit would help connect young people with opportunities for entrepreneurship, self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
On Tackling Youth Unemployment
Addressing the challenge of unemployment and economic hardship, Aghatise maintained that creating practical opportunities for young people remained essential to achieving meaningful economic empowerment.
He said the forthcoming summit would provide an avenue to explore viable economic opportunities, identify relevant empowerment programmes and encourage young people to develop the skills and entrepreneurial capacity needed to improve their livelihoods.
According to him, the ultimate objective is to build a generation of young people who can contribute meaningfully to the state's economy rather than depend solely on government employment.
He added that sustained collaboration among government institutions, private-sector stakeholders, youth organisations and development partners would be crucial to expanding opportunities and addressing the challenges facing young Nigerians.
Seeks Stronger Collaboration With Political Leaders
Aghatise also disclosed that he had initiated engagements with political officeholders and public officials to identify opportunities through which NYAN could advance its youth development agenda.
He cited recent meetings with Barrister Charity, a former Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly who represented Ovia North-East, and Dr. Christopher Orobosa, one of the youngest local government chairmen in the state.
He said the engagements focused on identifying programmes and opportunities within their respective offices and administrations that could be leveraged to improve the welfare and prospects of young people.
According to him, the responses received so far have been encouraging, with the leaders expressing willingness to support the organisation's vision and initiatives.
He noted that the next phase would focus on translating the relationships into practical programmes capable of delivering measurable benefits to young people at the grassroots.
He emphasised that partnerships with public officials and relevant institutions would remain an important part of his strategy for expanding youth participation in governance and development.
Eyes Edo Assembly, Senate, Governorship
On his political ambition, Aghatise declared that he aspired to represent Ovia North-East Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, subsequently represent Edo South Senatorial District in the Senate, and ultimately become Governor of Edo State.
He explained that his political aspirations were rooted in a desire to demonstrate what purposeful leadership and good governance should look like, rather than merely occupy public offices.
“For me, these aspirations go beyond occupying political offices. They are about building a track record of purposeful service, championing youth development, creating economic opportunities, and demonstrating that governance can be transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the people,” he said.
He added that his immediate focus remained on developing the capacity to serve, building relationships that could advance youth development and demonstrating leadership through practical initiatives.
His stated priorities reflect an emphasis on youth inclusion, economic opportunities and responsive governance as key pillars of his long-term political vision.
‘Too Poor to Participate’: Aghatise Calls for Affordable Political Participation
The Edo South NYAN leader argued that young Nigerians must move beyond being used as campaign mobilisers and political supporters to becoming active participants in decision-making and governance.
He called for institutional reforms that would create more opportunities for young people in elective and appointive positions, alongside policies that would make political participation more accessible and affordable.
He said NYAN had a responsibility to educate young people on leadership, encourage grassroots participation and establish platforms through which they could access political and governance opportunities.
Reflecting on the financial challenges confronting young people interested in elective office, Aghatise recalled making a video several months ago in which he addressed the high cost of contesting elections in Nigeria.
He said the challenge had evolved beyond questions about whether young people were old enough to govern, arguing that financial barriers were increasingly preventing capable young Nigerians from participating in the political process.
“The problem now isn't even being too young to rule, but a case of too poor to participate,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria's democratic process would benefit from reforms that reduce the financial barriers to political participation and give competent young people a fair opportunity to contest elections and contribute to national development.
According to him, youth inclusion must extend beyond campaign activities to actual representation in political institutions and meaningful participation in policy formulation.
Promises Transparent and Accountable Leadership
On the principles that would guide his leadership if elected into public office, Aghatise identified transparency, accountability and regular engagement with constituents as key priorities.
He pledged to prioritise town hall meetings, establish accessible channels for constituents to communicate their concerns and provide periodic reports on his activities, commitments and achievements.
He said public office should be treated as a responsibility entrusted to elected representatives by the people, rather than a privilege to be abused.
According to him, citizens deserve to understand how decisions affecting their lives are made and how public resources are utilised.
He added that his approach would be people-centred, with an emphasis on measurable results, open communication and the translation of campaign promises into tangible development outcomes.
He maintained that public confidence in leadership could be strengthened when elected officials remain accessible, explain their decisions and demonstrate accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Outlines Five-Year Development Vision for Edo South
Looking ahead to the next five years, Aghatise identified youth employment and economic empowerment, education and skills development, and greater youth participation in governance as the three major priorities of his vision for Edo South.
He said he would advocate practical programmes that equip young people with employable skills, support entrepreneurship and connect them with sustainable economic opportunities.
He also emphasised the need to establish platforms that enable young people to contribute to policy discussions, community development and decisions affecting their future.
On measuring progress, he said success should be assessed through tangible indicators, including the number of young people trained, businesses supported, employment opportunities created and youths actively involved in decision-making.
He explained that such measurable indicators would help determine whether youth-focused policies and programmes were producing meaningful outcomes.
Ultimately, Aghatise said his vision was to see an Edo South where young people are not merely recipients of government interventions but active contributors to development across Edo State.
He maintained that building a better future for young people would require sustained commitment, strategic partnerships, inclusive policies and leadership that recognises the potential of the youth population.
The NYAN leader's outlined priorities place youth empowerment, political inclusion, economic opportunity and accountable governance at the centre of his vision, as he seeks to build a foundation for broader public service in Edo State.
