In a bold step to elevate the voices of young Nigerians in shaping the country’s future, Citizen Commons Advocacy International has launched the first-ever Nigerian Youth Voice Survey.
Unveiled at a media briefing in Abuja on June 20, 2025, the nationwide initiative aims to capture the lived realities, viewpoints, and aspirations of Nigerians aged 18 to 35 as the nation grapples with deep-rooted political and socio-economic challenges.
The survey builds on Citizen Commons’ earlier grassroots dialogue series, Youth Conversation for a New Nigeria, which produced the widely-referenced manifesto A Nigeria for the Many, Not the Few. That document guided policy discussions leading up to the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the launch, Citizen Commons Executive Director, Olalekan Oshunkoya, emphasized the urgent need to ground national decisions in the perspectives of the country’s youth.
“The future of Nigeria rests in the hands of young people,” Oshunkoya said. “We must be intentional about the politics, policies, and practices that shape our collective progress.”
Designed to be truly inclusive, the Nigerian Youth Voice Survey will reach respondents in urban centers, rural communities, and higher institutions across all six geo-political zones. Organizers aim to gather responses from at least 25,000 young Nigerians—creating what they describe as an “authoritative mapping” of youth sentiment on key issues such as insecurity, unemployment, political participation, police brutality, education, healthcare, housing, corruption, and federal restructuring.
The survey will also gauge how young Nigerians perceive their country’s global image and their role in reshaping it.
“This is about giving young people a meaningful platform and bridging divides—urban and rural, ethnic and economic—to highlight shared hopes and pressing concerns,” Oshunkoya added.
A central goal of the initiative is to provide data that will inform evidence-based policymaking. Citizen Commons says the survey results will be shared with leaders at local, state, and federal levels, alongside policy recommendations rooted in the priorities expressed by young Nigerians.
“We are equipping decision-makers with real insights into what youth want, so policies can be better aligned with their expectations,” Oshunkoya said.
To ensure widespread participation, Citizen Commons is partnering with youth leaders, student union executives, grassroots organizers, and both traditional and digital media outlets. The organization is urging young Nigerians not just to respond but to champion the process in their communities.
Coinciding with the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, the initiative comes at a pivotal time for reflection and renewed commitment to inclusive democracy.
“We must all play our part in steering Nigeria towards the vision our founding fathers had—one built on equal opportunity and shared prosperity,” Oshunkoya said.
For Citizen Commons, a “New Nigeria” is not an abstract idea but an achievable goal, driven by youth-led action and civic engagement.
“The New Nigeria is alive in the hearts of our young people. One voice, one action, one step at a time—we believe it can be realized in our lifetime,” Oshunkoya affirmed.
Citizen Commons Advocacy International is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to empowering citizens to drive collective solutions to social challenges through innovation, civic participation, and grassroots engagement. Its platforms support social entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders committed to building democratic accountability and sustainable development from the ground up.
