The House of Representatives has backed a new youth leadership programme designed to prepare young Nigerians for future roles in governance, public policy and political leadership.

The initiative, known as the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development fellowship, will begin with 1,000 student leaders selected from 10 pilot tertiary institutions.

The 18-month programme was unveiled in Abuja through the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and the Gender Mobile Initiative.

Organisers said the programme is intended to bridge gaps in leadership values and remove some of the barriers preventing young Nigerians from participating meaningfully in governance.

Participants are expected to receive knowledge, practical skills and values intended to prepare them for public leadership.

The programme also forms part of the House of Representatives‘ wider inclusion and open parliament agenda.

Under the sixth component of its legislative agenda, the House committed itself to developing a National Assembly youth engagement strategy that would provide a framework for sustained youth development and participation in legislative governance.

The House said it would continue expanding opportunities for citizen engagement while supporting legislative processes that are more inclusive.

It also pledged to support reforms capable of widening political participation and ensuring that Nigerian laws and institutions better reflect the realities of the population.

Organisers of the fellowship said the decision to concentrate initially on 1,000 student leaders across 10 institutions was deliberate, arguing that democratic leadership requires intentional preparation rather than being left to chance.

Beyond political participation, the programme is expected to expose participants to the responsibilities associated with public leadership and democratic stewardship.

Speakers at the unveiling maintained that investment in young leaders is important to the long-term development of accountable institutions and the future of Nigerian democracy.

The fellowship comes amid continuing debate about the representation of young Nigerians in political institutions despite the country’s predominantly youthful population.