01 Nov Youth leadership critical to West Africa’s progress – Goodluck Jonathan
Addressing an ECOWAS Ministerial Consultation on Transforming Youth Leadership and Policy Action to Advance Peace, Security and Community Resilience in Accra on Thursday (October 29, 2026), Mr Jonathan said young people, who constitute a significant proportion of Africa’s population, have a responsibility to drive transformation, protect their countries and ensure that leaders act in the public interest.
“We cannot move forward as a sub-region and even as a continent or society if the youth are neglected, if the youth are not involved in an effort to protect our own country,” he said.
He stated that young people had played significant roles in West Africa’s independence struggles and subsequent political developments, citing the contributions of student movements and young activists who challenged colonial rule and advocated self-determination.
He urged young people to recognise their capacity to influence the political and social development of their countries.
The event formed part of a three-day ECOWAS Ministerial Consultation on Youth, Peace and Security, held in Accra from October 27 to 29, 2026, under the theme, “Advancing Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa: Strengthening Regional Cooperation, Knowledge Sharing and Strategic Partnerships.”
It was intended to assess progress in implementing the African Union’s Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security (CFYPS) and its 10-Year Implementation Plan (2020–2029) at regional and national levels, with funding and support from Germany, the European Union and Denmark through projects implemented by GIZ (AUPSG and EPSG).
Mr Jonathan said the current generation must draw inspiration from that history and sustain the pursuit of accountable leadership, good governance and peaceful change.
He observed that young people’s numerical strength placed them in a strategic position to influence the direction of the continent, either towards progress and stability or towards crisis and instability.
“If we live peacefully, this segment of the population can ensure that we lead the way. If we lead in crisis, it is the same segment of the population that can take us there,” he said.
The former president also challenged young people to embrace leadership, arguing that age should not be a barrier to public service. He said leadership required energy, commitment, determination and a willingness to work for the collective good.
“Leadership is about commitment, the willingness and the determination to do what is right for the general public, not for yourself,” he stated.
On strategies for achieving change, Mr Jonathan urged the youth to prioritise peaceful advocacy, mentorship, persuasion and constructive engagement rather than confrontation.
Drawing on his experience in government, he recounted how dialogue and engagement with young people had helped defuse a potentially volatile situation. He cautioned that violent approaches could deepen instability and undermine the very future young people sought to protect.
“You have to take the soft approach. You have to take advocacy. You have to take mentorship. You have to take persuasion. And you will even achieve better than that confrontation,” he said.
He further encouraged young people to harness social media and other communication platforms to mobilise support, influence public debate and hold governments accountable for decisions that did not serve the public interest.
“Social media is powerful. You can use that to mobilise young people. You can use that to stop government from doing certain things that you think are not too good for us,” he said.
Mr Jonathan, however, cautioned that meaningful transformation would not happen overnight, noting that lasting political and social change often required years of sustained effort and commitment.
He urged emerging leaders not to become discouraged by slow progress but to remain focused on their goals, uphold their principles and build public confidence through responsible leadership.
He expressed confidence that young people across West Africa could contribute meaningfully to peace, security, good governance and community resilience if they equipped themselves with the necessary knowledge, skills and commitment to serve.
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