On June 12, 2025, the heartbeat of Nigeria pulsed to the rhythm of resolute footsteps. Not of protest, but of purpose. From Unity Fountain to Eagle Square, thousands of young Nigerians walked—not in defiance, but in affirmation—carrying the weight of history on their shoulders and the banner of Renewed Hope in their hands.
This was no ordinary commemoration of Democracy Day. It was a vibrant declaration by a generation that refuses to be sidelined. It was a collective call to action from those who no longer wait to be led but insist on co-piloting the Nigerian project.
Under the banner “We Walk for Democracy, We Walk for Renewed Hope,” the Nigeria Youth Walk for Democracy transcended ceremony and became a movement. A bridge between the June 12 heroes who bled for our rights and a 21st-century youth bloc determined to defend and deepen them.
Indeed, as the keynote speech reminded the nation, June 12 did not merely birth our democracy—it baptized it in blood, courage, and conviction. The names of Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alfred Rewane, Bagauda Kaltho, Chima Ubani, and Pa Alfred Ilenre are not just echoes of history—they are moral compasses. Their sacrifices consecrated democracy as more than a system; they made it a soul of the nation.
Yet the most powerful shift we witnessed was this: the baton has not only passed—it is being wielded. Today’s youth no longer chant slogans alone; they shape policy, build platforms, create solutions, and demand accountability.
At the center of this national moment is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, himself a veteran of the June 12 struggle, now occupying the very office that once hunted him. This historic irony is not lost on Nigerians. But more importantly, his presidency is actively shaping a legacy not by repeating old glories but by confronting new challenges—frontally and fearlessly.
His economic and fiscal reforms, though unpopular in some corners, are laying the groundwork for sustainable transformation. Where previous leaders traded slogans for stagnation, President Tinubu has chosen substance over spectacle. Despite inheriting a fractured economy and a volatile security landscape, his administration has delivered bold, systemic interventions—from petroleum deregulation to tax reform, security overhaul, and digital innovation.
The impact is already visible in the youth sector, where a deliberate revolution in empowerment is underway:
iDICE, a $617.7 million fund, is turbocharging youth-led startups.
NiYA training centers are reshaping the national skills landscape.
The 3MTT initiative is targeting 3 million digitally skilled Nigerians.
The NYIF is unlocking ₦110 billion in entrepreneurship capital.
The PBAT Green Heroes project is creating thousands of eco-jobs.
This is no accident. It is the outcome of intentional leadership.
President Tinubu’s administration has not just included young people—it has elevated them. The appointment of Comrade Ayodele Olawande as the youngest Minister of Youth Development in Nigerian history is more than symbolism. It is a policy choice, backed by a cohort of other young appointees already delivering measurable impact across sectors.
This unprecedented youth inclusion affirms a truth long spoken but rarely practiced: that Nigerian youth are not the future—they are the now.
In this democracy, they are not ornaments of campaigns but architects of governance. They are not props for photo ops, but partners in nation-building.
Of course, detractors remain. There are those who cling to cynicism as if hope were a burden and not a necessity. But as the keynote boldly declared, “Let them bark from the sidelines. We will build.”
Nigeria’s youth are no longer content to be angry—they are now active. No longer just loud—they are loud with impact. They understand that democracy is not an inheritance but a daily investment. And today, they are investing their sweat, skills, and souls into building a country that reflects their ambition and their dignity.
The stabilizing hand of the National Assembly, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, deserves applause too. In a political era often marred by antagonism, the current legislative-executive synergy is an encouraging template of what mature governance should look like.
Let us also not forget our gallant Armed Forces and service chiefs whose sacrifices continue to shield our unity. They are the silent enforcers of the peace that allows this democracy to function.
What we saw on June 12 was not merely a walk—it was a witness. A witness to the fact that democracy, though battered and bruised over the decades, is still alive. That hope, though deferred, is not dead. And that Nigerian youth, once underestimated, now stand as the credible custodians of the future.
As President Tinubu himself has often said, “Democracy is an unfinished journey.”
Indeed, it is.
But on this day, Nigeria took another confident step forward—led by her youth, anchored in history, and propelled by hope.
And in this walk, the world saw a nation that refuses to crawl.
