By Osaretin Osadebamwen
The need for Nigerians to build trust, demand accountability and participate responsibly in civic life has emerged as the central message from three speakers at a community dialogue in Gwarinpa, Abuja, as they urged citizens, particularly young people, to move beyond complaints and become active participants in solving the country’s challenges.
Speaking at the event organised by the CREAP Africa Initiative to mark International Youth Day 2026, the Executive Director of Africana League, Dr. Glory Ukwenga, said meaningful national development depends on citizens who are prepared to engage institutions, challenge poor governance and take practical responsibility for improving their communities. She described such citizens as “ACTizens” — people who do not merely complain about problems but ask questions and take “the next right step” to solve them.
According to Ukwenga, responsible civic participation does not mean agreeing with government at all times or remaining silent when institutions fail. Rather, it requires citizens to demand accountability, organise, protest and challenge those in power while ensuring that the ultimate objective remains the improvement of the community. She stressed that civic engagement should produce ownership, rather than dependence, warning that interventions that do not equip communities to sustain their own development risk becoming temporary gestures rather than genuine transformation.
Ukwenga also placed strong emphasis on inclusion, urging civic actors to look beyond traditional community gatekeepers and deliberately create space for people whose voices are often excluded from decision-making. She specifically identified young people, women, persons with disabilities, widows, widowers, pregnant and nursing mothers, homeless people and newcomers to communities as groups whose interests must be considered.
She particularly called for greater inclusion of young women, asking: when stakeholders speak about “youth,” which young people are actually represented, who speaks and whose interests are reflected in the outcome?
Her position was reinforced by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), whose Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented at the event by Mrs Ebele Okonkwo, urged Nigerian youths to see themselves not merely as leaders of tomorrow but as partners in nation-building today.
The NOA said the theme of the event — building trust, strengthening accountability and advancing civic space — speaks directly to the responsibility of young Nigerians to shape the country they desire.
The agency identified integrity as fundamental to rebuilding public trust, noting that young people must demonstrate responsible conduct in schools, businesses, online spaces and leadership.
On accountability, the NOA urged youths to ask the right questions, demand transparency and lead by example, stressing that societies become stronger when citizens refuse to overlook wrongdoing or compromise their values when nobody is watching.
On civic space, the agency encouraged young Nigerians to use their voices responsibly in policymaking, governance, innovation and community service. It also highlighted the National Identity Project, Operations 7 for 7, describing it as a social contract that emphasises both government’s obligations to citizens and citizens’ responsibilities to the country.
The agency called for greater youth involvement in initiatives aimed at strengthening national identity, patriotism, discipline and unity.
For the Executive Director of CREAP Africa Initiative, Sylvanus Udoenoh, the pathway to achieving these objectives lies in creating safe platforms where citizens and institutions can listen to one another, express concerns and identify practical solutions.
Welcoming participants to the community dialogue, Udoenoh said trust cannot be assumed; it is built through open communication, mutual understanding and the willingness of institutions and citizens to honour commitments.
He explained that the dialogue formed part of CREAP Africa Initiative’s Safe Civic Engagement: Empowering Youth Voices and Protecting Freedoms in Nigeria project, supported by CIVICUS.
The initiative, he said, seeks to ensure that citizens can participate in civic life safely, peacefully and responsibly through community dialogues, stakeholder advocacy, media engagement and capacity building.
Drawing lessons from previous community dialogues in Kuje and Dei-Dei, Udoenoh said issues such as security, peaceful coexistence, public services, youth development and accountability cannot be solved by one institution or group.
He called for partnerships among government, security institutions, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, young people and communities, noting that differences should not prevent stakeholders from finding common ground.
The three speakers ultimately converged on the need to transform civic conversations into practical and sustainable action. Ukwenga framed this through the ACTizen who listens, engages, challenges and builds alongside communities; the NOA emphasised the responsibility of young Nigerians to uphold integrity and participate actively in national development; while Udoenoh called for inclusive platforms that turn dialogue into concrete commitments.
The message was therefore clear: trust is built through dialogue, accountability through responsible participation, and stronger communities through collective action. For the speakers, Nigeria’s civic future depends not only on what government institutions do, but also on citizens who are willing to participate, demand better outcomes, include marginalised voices and take ownership of the solutions their communities need.
