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Former member of the House of Representatives and Director-General of the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF), Hon. Tony Nwulu, has called on young Nigerians to move beyond social media activism and take active roles in political participation and decision-making.

Speaking on Electoral Reforms Half Hour on NTA News24, Hon Nwulu, who represented Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency from 2015 to 2019 and sponsored the historic Not Too Young To Run Bill, said the biggest challenge facing youth inclusion in governance remains ignorance and misinformation about their political rights.

“There is still a lot of ignorance,” he said. “Many young people are excited about participating in politics, but most do not yet know how to engage. The space is open, but they must go beyond online agitation to real political participation.”

He explained that while youth engagement in politics has increased since the passage of the Not Too Young To Run Act, many still perceive politics as reserved for the older generation. “We are coming from a system where politics was made to look sacred, an exclusive space for the elders. That mindset must change.”

Reflecting on his journey to the National Assembly at age 36, Hon. Nwulu described it as proof that young people can succeed in Nigerian politics when they organize and engage strategically. “I represented a Yoruba-speaking constituency even though I don’t speak Yoruba. My people believed in me because they saw capacity, not tribe. That’s what is possible when citizens see beyond identity,” he said.

On current electoral reforms,Hon. Nwulu praised the 10th National Assembly for being more inclusive of young people, citing the creation of the Youths in Parliament Committee chaired by Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala. He also revealed that a bill proposing reserved seats for youth is currently being developed by the committee. “This assembly has shown commitment to youth inclusion. The challenge now is for young people to organize and take advantage of it,” he noted.

Hon. Nwulu also discussed the activities of the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF), an initiative supported by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He said the forum recently launched the Take Action Campaign, which aims to register 20 million young voters ahead of the 2027 elections. “Our goal is not just to get young people registered but to get them elected,” he said.

He admitted that youth turnout on election day remains a concern but expressed optimism that increasing digital engagement will drive participation. “The 2023 elections showed progress. Many of the six million votes for new parties came from first-time young voters. That shows what’s possible when young people are mobilized,” he said.

Hon. Nwulu emphasized the need for partnership between civil society and political movements, recalling how the success of the Not Too Young To Run Bill was achieved through coalition-building. “That law didn’t pass by luck, it passed because civil society and young people worked together,” he said. “If we replicate that unity again, we’ll see more youth-led reforms.”

He concluded by urging young Nigerians to channel their online energy into offline organizing. “Politics doesn’t happen on your phone. The real work is on the ground, registering, voting, joining parties, and influencing policies. Once young people realize that, it’s game over for old-style politics,” Hon Nwulu stated.