Citizenship Education: Enhancing Young People’s Participation In Politics In Nigeria
Volume 3 - Issue 2, February 2019 Edition
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Author(s)
Anthony Abah Ebonyi
Keywords
Citizenship, Citizenship Education, Political Participation, Politics, Young People/Youth
Abstract
Research has shown that young people are showing increased interest in the political process in their respective countries. However, in Nigeria, and perhaps globally, there is the belief that the young people are lazy and politically indifferent, preferring instead to be allowed to live as they deem fit. The young people view politics as essentially the exclusive domain of the old people, who, soon after they are elected into political office, tended to focus on enriching themselves, and frantically seek to perpetuate their stay in office, thereby forestalling any hope of they (youth) becoming political leaders in the society. Using empirical documents and other available literatures sourced online this paper reinforces the need for citizenship education in order to promote a culture of active citizenship and democratic participation by the youths in Nigeria. The study showed that young people were not apathetic to politics and that citizenship education was considered to be imperative to enhancing their active participation in the political processes. It concluded that youth participation in the political process could be enhanced by educating the citizens to imbibe moral and ethical values in line with democratic tenets, through the family, schools, the mass media, as well as the political parties; for the overall development of the society.
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