Ogun Youth Assembly Chairman, Habeeb Whyte, NANS National Public Relations Officer and convener of SMS 2025, Adeyemi Ajasa and others at the Students Mentoring Summit (SMS 2025). Photo: Ogun Youth Assembly
Ambassador Whyte made the call during a Students Mentoring Summit (SMS 2025) organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
In his address, Whyte stressed the need for young people to be given more opportunities to contribute to policy formulation and implementation at all levels of government.
He noted that youths possess the creativity, innovation, and energy required to move the nation forward.
Despite being the majority in the population, Whyte expressed concern that Nigerian youths remain largely underrepresented in political offices and key government appointments.
He said this imbalance must be corrected to achieve meaningful progress and inclusive governance.
“The time has come for young people to move from being mere participants to being active decision-makers.
“We are not just the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of today, and our voices must be heard in shaping the policies that affect our future.”
The Ogun Youth Assembly Chairman pointed out that many young Nigerians have demonstrated competence and integrity across various sectors, including technology, entrepreneurship, and community development.
He therefore urged political leaders to trust young people with leadership responsibilities and to create enabling environments that allow them to thrive.
Ambassador Whyte called on government institutions and political parties to design mentorship and capacity-building programmes to prepare the next generation of leaders for public service.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to partnering with government agencies, private organizations, and civil society groups to promote youth inclusion and empowerment across Ogun State.
The Chairman emphasized that youth engagement should be viewed not as a threat, but as a strategic investment in the future of the state.
During the summit, Ambassador Habeeb Whyte was presented with an Outstanding Mentorship Award in recognition of his commitment to youth development and leadership empowerment.
In his closing remarks, Comrade Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, NANS National Public Relations Officer and convener of SMS 2025, charged participants to translate the lessons of the summit into action.
“Fellow comrades, this summit will come and go, but what we do after today will determine whether it was merely a gathering or a turning point.
“Let us build strong mentorship relationships, birth scalable solutions, and sustain networks that drive change. Let history remember that in October 2025, under the banners of NANS, we dared to dream, think, and act together and together, we changed the narrative. When students rise, a nation rises".
