Young people have been encouraged to become more intentional, informed, and assertive in demanding inclusion in governance processes, instead of waiting passively for opportunities to be offered to them.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Equal Voices programme, Theresa Atule Awine emphasized that youth participation in governance will not automatically happen unless young people actively claim space and engage decision-makers.
She noted that while there are existing structures and policies designed to include young people, many of these opportunities remain underutilized due to lack of awareness and confidence among youth.
“We are not waiting for seats anymore. We are carrying our own chairs to the table,” Madam Awine said, using a metaphor to describe the shift from passive expectation to active engagement.
She explained that one of the biggest challenges is that many young people are unaware of policies that guarantee their participation in governance, including national youth policies and local governance frameworks that reserve spaces for youth representation.
According to her, this knowledge gap weakens youth advocacy and limits their ability to demand accountability from leaders.
“There are many young people who do not even know that there are policies that guarantee their representation. If you do not know what is yours, you cannot demand it,” she stated.
Madam Awine stressed that awareness is the foundation of empowerment, adding that informed young people are more likely to engage confidently with institutions and less likely to be sidelined in discussions.
She explained that when young people understand policy processes and governance structures, they are better positioned to challenge exclusion and contribute meaningfully.
“Nothing beats a young person who knows their own roles. When you are informed, you can engage confidently and cannot easily be dismissed,” she said.
Beyond awareness, she also urged young people to focus on how they communicate their concerns to authorities. According to her, respectful, well-prepared, and strategic engagement often yields better results than confrontational approaches.
She added that youth representatives must also remain accountable to the wider youth population, ensuring that they reflect collective interests rather than individual ambitions.
Madam Awine concluded by calling for sustained civic education and leadership development programmes to strengthen youth participation in governance structures at all levels.
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