Youth Forge: CISD Brings Young Nigerians and Experts Together to Question the Country We Are Inheriting

At the third edition of Civic Talks, young Nigerians confronted questions of culture, institutions, accountability and the choices that will shape the country they inherit.

On Thursday, 27 August, the Centre for Inclusive Social Development (CISD) brought together young Nigerians, civic actors, professionals and policy voices in Abuja for the third edition of Civic Talks, under the theme “Unfiltered: The Country Young Nigerians Are Inheriting.”

The conversation was designed to go beyond simply describing Nigeria’s challenges. It created a space for young people to ask difficult questions, examine the systems and values they are inheriting, and begin thinking collectively about the role they can play in shaping what comes next.

The dialogue was organised in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Opening the conversation, CISD Executive Director Folahan Johnson challenged young Nigerians to look beyond individual political office holders and pay closer attention to the institutions, systems and social attitudes that shape how the country works.

He framed what each generation inherits around three broad dimensions: geography, institutions and psychology.

While geography is largely fixed, institutions and psychology can evolve. This distinction formed an important thread throughout the conversation: the country young Nigerians inherit today does not necessarily have to be the country they leave behind.

Johnson also emphasised the importance of young people developing the knowledge and tools required to engage government effectively.

Rather than withdrawing because of frustration or distrust, he encouraged young Nigerians to keep asking questions, organising and speaking up.

“If you are speaking alone, the likelihood of you not being heard is higher than if we are speaking in groups.”

The message was clear: civic participation is not simply about expressing dissatisfaction. It is about understanding how systems work and finding meaningful ways to influence them.

Delivering the keynote address, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, Managing Director of Reverso, turned the conversation towards another powerful inheritance: culture.

He challenged participants to examine the beliefs, behaviours and social practices that are passed from one generation to another and often accepted without question.

For Ojeniyi, respecting elders and preserving culture should not prevent younger Nigerians from interrogating ideas that may no longer serve society.

“Respect for others does not mean you cannot interrogate some of their ideas.”

He also emphasised the importance of intellectual development — the ability to navigate one's environment, challenge assumptions, refine ideas and engage with perspectives that differ from our own.

The discussion extended to issues including gender equality, human rights, civic values and the need to learn from how other societies have addressed similar challenges, while adapting those lessons to Nigeria's own context.

One of the strongest themes that emerged from the day's conversation was the need to move beyond seeing young Nigerians as victims of circumstances.

Participants grappled with questions around weak institutions, poor policy implementation, accountability, corruption, education, reward systems and the wider relationship between citizens and government.

But the conversation did not end with identifying problems.

It moved towards a more important question:

That question became particularly important as participants engaged directly with one another, shared experiences, challenged assumptions and explored possible pathways for change.

The energy, questions and perspectives in the room reinforced something we at CISD believe strongly: young people are not merely inheritors of Nigeria's future; they are active participants in determining it.

The conversations at Civic Talks also reinforced the thinking behind Youth Forge — an initiative created to provide young Nigerians with spaces to connect, question, learn, collaborate and develop solutions to issues that affect their communities and country.

As the day's conversations unfolded, it became increasingly clear that there is both a strong appetite for engagement and a need for platforms where that energy can be channelled into constructive action.

That is the space Youth Forge seeks to occupy.

The goal is not simply to have more conversations.

It is to forge ideas, relationships and solutions that can translate civic participation into meaningful action.

The third edition of Civic Talks was ultimately about refusing to accept the status quo as inevitable.

It was about recognising that culture can be examined, institutions can be strengthened, ideas can be challenged and citizens can organise differently.

Most importantly, it was about reminding young Nigerians that the future is not something that simply happens to them.

The country we inherit does not have to be the country we leave behind.

At CISD, we are committed to creating more spaces for these conversations and, through Youth Forge, taking the next step — from dialogue to collective action and solutions.

The conversation has started.

And we are only getting started.

Are you a young Nigerian passionate about civic participation, leadership, accountability and building solutions for a better Nigeria?

Join Youth Forge and be part of a growing community of young people forging the future they want to inherit.

Watch the full Civic Talks conversation