Chibuzo Okereke, the Labour Party’s 2027 presidential candidate, has promised to implement a comprehensive and far-reaching agenda for youth development and institutional reforms if elected as the next president.
He stated this when the leadership of the Forum of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN) paid him a visit in Abuja on Friday.
The engagement is part of the forum’s youth dialogue series with presidential candidates of all the political parties.
The forum brings together the leadership of a multi-party youth platform to engage presidential candidates on policies and aspirations the proposed administration would have for Nigeria’s youth.
Okereke emphasised that Nigerian youth must not be regarded merely as instruments of political mobilisation during elections.
He said they should participate directly in the formulation of policies, development programmes, legislation and decisions that determine their present circumstances and prospects.
Okereke promised that Nigeria would be governed with a clear vision under LP leadership, with young Nigerians positioned as drivers of governance and decision-making, rather than being confined to the margins of the political process.
He said his administration would be guided by the principle that government exists first and foremost to serve citizens and improve their quality of life, rather than to advance narrow political, personal or elite interests.
Okereke proposed the reform of the Children’s Parliament, linking early civic participation and leadership development to the broader objective of preparing young Nigerians for responsible citizenship.
He said leadership development must begin early and continue through structured institutions capable of cultivating civic consciousness, patriotism, responsibility and democratic values.
The presidential aspirant proposed the establishment of a National Youth and Students Innovation Development Bank, specifically designed to fund youth innovations, inventions and service ideas.
He said under this framework, promising ideas would be identified and supported through the integrated youth structure extending down to the community level.
The proposed institution, he said, would address one of the persistent barriers confronting young Nigerians: the inability to transform creative ideas and innovative concepts into viable enterprises because of inadequate access to capital.
Speaking at the engagement, Delaw Chukwu, the forum’s chairman, said the forum’s objective was not merely to listen to campaign promises but to strategically engage candidates on the challenges confronting young Nigerians, interrogate their policy positions and seek answers to critical national questions.
Chukwu disclosed that the forum comprises the youth leaders of 22 political parties, with a membership strength running into several thousand nationwide and a structure extending across the states, local government areas and wards.
