Frontline broadcast journalist, Kayode Okikiolu, has urged young Nigerians to develop themselves into political intellectuals if they hope to drive meaningful change in the country.
Okikiolu made the call in Ibadan at the second edition of ALT Café, a solution-focused conversation series convened by Ogbeni Labzy Alternative, a social enterprise initiated by Adeola Adelabu to contribute to societal development.
Speaking during a fireside chat with the convener on the theme, “Young People: Policies and Politics,” Okikiolu urged participants, comprising young people drawn from across the state, to raise their “government quotient.”
He said young people must develop a deeper understanding of government and politics, stressing that they could not effectively influence policies without understanding how the system works.
Okikiolu advised participants to identify government officials at various levels and build relationships with them to enable constructive and diplomatic engagement on contentious policy issues.
He said, “If young people want to drive meaningful change, they must develop themselves into political intellectuals and raise their government quotient” to understand the inner workings of public sector governance.
The journalist added that building relationships with relevant government officials would give young people better opportunities to engage policymakers and contribute to decisions affecting society.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Adelabu said the event was created to provide a safe environment where young people could discuss issues affecting society and explore practical solutions.
According to him, “ALT Café is designed to create a safe space for young people in Ibadan to discuss social and developmental issues with the potential to shape policy and drive local impact.”
Adelabu added that the initiative was deliberately designed to encourage conversations beyond partisan politics, allowing participants to freely exchange ideas on issues affecting their communities.
He said the platform would continue to promote meaningful conversations that could translate into practical solutions and contribute to societal development.