Abuja: Amb. Kenneth Anetor, a prominent advocate for youth development and mental health, emphasized the critical role of community action in Nigeria’s transformation, calling on citizens to engage actively in grassroots development processes. Anetor made these remarks during a panel session at the Futurecast Africa 2026 conference, organized in collaboration with IDCL Global in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Anetor highlighted that meaningful development can only be realized when citizens go beyond relying solely on government interventions and take proactive steps to address challenges within their communities. “The voice of the community is the strongest voice because if we rise together, there is no limit to what we can achieve,” he stated. He noted that community engagement has improved citizens’ participation in policy discussions, especially through his involvement with National Assembly committees on drug abuse and related matters.
Anetor asserted that every young Nigerian contributing positively to society strengthens the foundation for national development. He explained that change at the community level eventually leads to national development.
Mr. Olaniyan Sanusi, representing Mr. Samson Itodo, Chief Executive Officer of Yiaga Africa, expressed concerns about declining voter turnout, particularly among young Nigerians. Although youths constituted the largest group of new voter registrations ahead of the 2023 general elections, many did not participate in the polls. Sanusi stressed that democracy requires sustained engagement beyond election periods, encouraging citizens to join political processes, attend town hall meetings, and hold leaders accountable.
Sanusi pointed out that citizens’ assemblies at the local government level have shown that organized communities can significantly influence development decisions. He urged eligible voters to leverage technological innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
Mrs. Lucy James, Chief Executive Officer of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), called for increased public awareness of government procurement processes to foster accountability. She revealed that many citizens are unaware of accessible government contract information via the Bureau of Public Procurement’s Open Contracting Data Standards platform. Access to procurement information would empower citizens to monitor public projects and ensure contractors deliver quality services.
James urged small and medium-scale enterprises to register on the national contractors’ database to participate actively in public procurement opportunities. She also encouraged citizens to monitor community projects and demand accountability for abandoned or poorly executed projects.