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Gaya

The last time I genuinely felt any anticipation about politics in Nigeria was in 2023. I was overly hopeful that the effort we put in as Gen Z—showing up, speaking out, and participating in the elections despite all the ‘shege’ Nigeria has shown us—would finally be the gateway to the change we so desperately need.

Alas, politics in this country is far more complicated than black and white. And somehow, all the roads have led us here… to a reality where things feel like they’re deteriorating faster than we can keep up.

2027 is fast approaching, and once again, we’re being handed another opportunity to “decide”. I know that for many young people, the easier route is political apathy guised as not getting our hopes up. But that doesn’t save anyone. So how about we try something different this time, whether you’re part of the Japa crew or still holding it down here?

With elections coming up, many still don’t plan to vote because “our votes don’t count". Well, here’s the newsflash: they do count… just against us when we choose not to exercise our franchise. Apathy is part of the problem, and it’s contributing to the rapid decline of things in Nigeria. So instead of writing it off, let’s choose to see the upcoming elections as yet another opportunity to push for something better.

If you haven’t already, get your Permanent Voter’s Card when INEC reopens registration between May 4th and August 17th… and this time, actually use it.

Don’t just be a keyboard warrior, tweeting and retweeting everything you come across. Go a little deeper. Learn the politics beyond what you were taught in civic education, government, and history. Pay attention to current affairs. Ask questions like "How is the Middle Eastern crisis affecting Nigeria?" so that you can actually understand what’s going on beyond the hiked fuel price at the pumps.

This knowledge won’t just elevate your arguments; it will also build a more grounded sense of patriotism that can collectively translate into real change.

This is the age of content creation, and we’re the generation that made social media influencing what it is today. So instead of only putting out content that tears down the current government for virality or comical relief, channel that same creativity into sensitising and informing your predominantly Nigerian-youth audience. Imagine the ripple effect if our most influential actors, musicians, designers, and celebrities made patriotism look cool and aesthetic. That kind of shift would inspire action amongst a vast majority of us.

Also, you don’t have to wait until you’re “big” to start. Use your platform, no matter how small, to push back against the growing apathy and resignation towards politics in this country.

At the end of the day, no matter how bad things get in this country, some people will always rise above it. And that’s exactly why you need to double down on building your financial independence. Agreed, there are no jobs, and government policies can feel restrictive; for instance, in the crypto space, which was, for a while, the booming “oil rig” for many Nigerian youths. But beyond all that, there are still young Nigerians building successful enterprises across entertainment, finance, and tech.

We need to create space for ourselves in the right socioeconomic class. It won’t be easy, but it is achievable…beyond staying fixated on ‘japaing’.

It’s time we quit complaining from the sidelines. We have to prove that we are better and truly deserving of the change we want to see. If anything, our system is in critical need of younger, more vibrant minds. The least you can do is rally around credible student leaders in tertiary institutions, encourage them to take up internships with political groups, volunteer for campaigns, and generally seek more exposure within the political space.

The “nothing will change” mindset is haggard and paralysing. Let’s stay hopeful and act on our hope. Leave passive hope for citizens in countries where they are not praying for electricity and water…among other basic amenities.

A Gen Z guide to navigating politics, power, and civic responsibility in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

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