Nigerian Youths urged to embrace activism, civic engagement at OAU conference 

By Ifeoluwa Lambe

Young Nigerians have been urged to reject silence, embrace activism, and actively participate in advocacy and civic engagement as a pathway to social transformation and democratic accountability.

This formed the central message at the maiden edition of the Know Your Rights Conference, organised by the Clinic for Human Rights, Obafemi Awolowo University (CHROAU), held on Saturday at the Ajose Lecture Theatre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

The conference brought together students, legal practitioners, advocates, media professionals, and social justice actors to discuss the theme, “The Voice of Youths in Activism and Advocacy in the Contemporary World.”

Discussions at the conference focused on the role of young people in shaping public discourse, demanding accountability, defending rights, and navigating an increasingly complex world shaped by digital media, misinformation, and socio-economic pressures.

In his welcome remarks, CHROAU Lead Director, Adedoyin Oguntade, welcomed participants and emphasised the need to sustain conversations around rights, justice, and civic responsibility.

Delivering the opening address, Professor S. O. Oyelade of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, stressed the importance of responsible civic engagement, urging young people to use their voices as instruments for positive societal change.

According to him, activism remains a powerful tool for confronting societal ills, while advocacy serves as a means of influencing institutions and government toward meaningful reforms.

“As youths, you have strength and energy. Use it to demand change and push for a better society,” he said.

Professor Oyelade also warned against the misuse of digital platforms, particularly cyberbullying.

“The power of social media can drive meaningful change when used responsibly. But when you use your power, especially online, do not use it to bully others. Cyberbullying is also a crime,” he said.

The keynote address, delivered by Afolabi Alawode on behalf of legal practitioner and rights advocate Festus Ogun, challenged young Nigerians to resist silence in the face of injustice and oppression.

Quoting civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., he said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

He observed that many young people have gradually become passive observers of national issues due to fear, economic hardship, social pressure, and the rise of performative activism on social media.

According to him, many of the freedoms enjoyed today exist because previous generations refused to remain silent in the face of oppression.

“Silence has never solved problems. Much of what we enjoy today came from sacrifices made by those who refused to stay silent in difficult times,” he said.

Drawing from history, he highlighted the role young people played during colonial and post-colonial struggles, including student-led movements that challenged injustice and shaped national progress.

He also referenced activism within Obafemi Awolowo University, citing advocacy efforts that contributed to infrastructural improvements such as the dualisation of the Ife-Ibadan Road and the construction of the pedestrian bridge near the university gate.

Describing today’s youths as a potentially “silent generation,” he identified fear, broken promises, economic hardship, and performative digital activism as major obstacles to meaningful civic participation.

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“Activism now feels like a luxury to many because of daily survival struggles. Yet every generation must rise to defend justice,” he said.

He urged young people to become informed, actively participate in public discourse, and engage meaningfully in civic and governance-related conversations.

“You cannot give what you do not have. Advocacy begins with knowledge and understanding,” he said.

He further stressed that activism extends beyond protests and street demonstrations.

“Activism is not reserved for those carrying placards on the streets. It can happen through writing, teaching, organising, and speaking truth to power.”

The first panel session featured Joshua B. Oyebode, Lead Director of iCASE and State Volunteer Coordinator at Amnesty International, alongside Tribune Online Editor, Sikiru Obarayese. The session examined digital rights, media visibility, misinformation, and citizen participation in governance.

Speaking on digital rights, Oyebode stressed the need to prevent excessive government control of digital infrastructure, warning that such control could shape the future of citizens’ freedoms online.

Obarayese, speaking on media visibility and public advocacy, noted that some crises gain widespread attention while others disappear due to unequal media amplification.

“Technology is not neutral; it amplifies the intentions of those who use it. A crisis without a spokesperson is a crisis without vision,” he said.

He explained that agenda-setting, access to media platforms, and proximity to newsrooms often determine whether issues remain visible in public discourse.

Addressing misinformation in the age of artificial intelligence, the panelists emphasised the need for fact-checking, critical thinking, and responsible media consumption.

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“Verify facts and ask who benefits from a particular narrative,” Obarayese advised.

Oyebode also called for stronger civic engagement, stressing that meaningful societal change begins when citizens hold leaders accountable at community and institutional levels.

“Social amenities remain inaccessible to millions. Citizens must actively engage and ensure government remains accountable. Real change begins from local communities upward,” he said.

He also noted that while social media has improved awareness around activism, visibility alone does not translate into measurable impact.

“Visibility does not equate effectiveness,” he said.

The conference also featured a fireside chat themed “Walking the Talk: Activism and Advocacy in Modern-Day Nigeria.”

The session featured representatives of Citizen’s Gavel and Merit Chambers.

Speakers highlighted the growing role of technology-driven legal solutions such as Podus AI and Citizens Gavel in improving access to justice, particularly for vulnerable individuals who may lack resources to seek legal representation.

They emphasised that technology and artificial intelligence should serve as tools for justice rather than instruments of harm.

The speakers also stressed the importance of digital literacy, legal awareness, and fact-checking in an era increasingly shaped by technology and misinformation.

They encouraged participants to better understand their rights and seek proper legal guidance when necessary.

The second panel session shifted attention to activism within university communities, with student leaders and campus voices reflecting on advocacy, unionism, and student representation.

Panelists included erstwhile Great Ife Students’ Union Public Relations Officer Aka Daniel, Welfare Director Shuaib Oshunleke Musab, Miss Nice Linus, and Mr Aduwo Ayodele, both activists from the University of Ibadan.

The panelists agreed that activism extends beyond protests and demonstrations.

They noted that advocacy involves speaking up against injustice, while activism requires deliberate action toward change.

Musab observed that activism is often shaped by the environment in which individuals grow.

The speakers stressed that activism is not about heroism but collective action.

“You do not do activism alone. It is not about being a hero. Share knowledge, mobilise others, and confront oppression with courage,” Nice said.

According to them, modern activism can take many forms, including writing, public speaking, organising, policy engagement, and strategic communication.

They also expressed concern over the declining culture of student unionism and intellectual engagement within university spaces.

“Unionism is evolving, but there are fundamental issues that must be addressed,” Aduwo noted.

The speakers urged students not to normalise oppression, fear, or ignorance, emphasising that silence often strengthens unjust systems.

Daniel also stressed the importance of communication in leadership, noting that leaders must maintain healthy feedback systems with those they represent.

The conference ended with a renewed call for young people to become active participants in governance, social justice, and nation-building.

Throughout the sessions, participants remained actively engaged, asking questions and contributing to discussions on digital rights, governance, activism, and youth participation.

The interactive nature of the conference underscored the growing interest among young people in civic engagement and rights-based advocacy.

Awards of recognition were also presented to speakers and special guests in appreciation of their contributions to the success of the maiden edition of the conference.

Participants were encouraged to understand their rights, engage critically with society, and use their voices as tools for advocacy and transformation.

Speaking after the event, a participant, Goodness Oluwasusi, a Part III Law student, described the conference as timely and enlightening.

According to him, the conference deepened his understanding of the relationship between activism and politics.

“I take interest in activism, journalism, and politics, so one thing I learned today is that activism and politics operate differently. The values and demands are not always the same,” he said.

He added that the conference also gave him a valuable opportunity to hear directly from activists and student leaders whose work he had closely followed.

As conversations around governance, justice, and youth participation continue to shape national discourse, the conference reinforced a clear message: the future of activism and advocacy in Nigeria will depend largely on whether young people choose silence or action.