YES Africa

22/08/2026

https://youtu.be/dvS0nd7_OPo?si=nOShY7WDjxbPMKDB

Nigeria’s civil society groups are raising fresh concerns about the...

19/08/2026

On Monday this week, our Executive Director, Oche Edeh Precious, joined the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room for its final Press Statement on the Osun Governorship Election.

Osun Election: Nigeria Situation Room urges INEC to fix BVAS, IREV, establish electoral offences commission before 2027 General Elections

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has described the just-concluded Osun State governorship election as a litmus test for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address identified shortcomings in the deployment of technology and strengthen the electoral process.

The Situation Room also called for the establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offences, particularly vote-buying, voter inducement, intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice.

Read more: https://standardtimesng.com/2026/08/17/osun-election-nigeria-situation-room-urges-inec-to-fix-bvas-irev-establish-electoral-offences-commission-before-2027-general-elections/

Source: Standard Times Nigeria

12/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 12, 2026
Abuja - Nigeria

YES AFRICA MARKS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2026: "DIFFERENT CONTEXT, COMMON ASPIRATION"

As the world commemorates International Youth Day 2026, the Youth Empowerment Solutions Initiative – YES AFRICA joins young people globally to affirm that despite our different contexts, we share one common aspiration: a just, peaceful, and prosperous future.

This year’s theme, “Different Context, Common Aspiration” speaks directly to Nigeria. From Daura in Katsina, to Maiduguri, to Port Harcourt, to Enugu and Lagos young Nigerians face different realities - unemployment, insecurity, climate impacts, and shrinking civic space. Yet our aspiration is the same: decent work, quality education, inclusion in governance, and the freedom to lead.

THE REALITY

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 35, young people are not just the future. They are driving the present.
But aspiration without investment becomes frustration. Too many young people are excluded from policy tables, denied funding for their ideas, and reduced to statistics instead of being seen as solutions.

YES AFRICA’S POSITION

“Different contexts should not mean different opportunities,” said Oche P. Edeh, Executive Director, YES AFRICA.
“What unites us as young people is our shared dream for Nigeria and Africa. On this International Youth Day, we are calling for intentional investment that meets young people where they are - in rural communities, in informal sectors, online, and in conflict-affected areas.

When we fund local youth action and trust young people to lead, we turn common aspirations into common progress.”

OUR CALL TO ACTION

On this International Youth Day 2026, YES AFRICA calls on:

1. Government at all levels to institutionalize youth participation through Youth Advisory Boards in MDAs and dedicate at least 10% of their budgets to youth development.
2. Private Sector to expand internships, skills apprenticeships, and procurement for young entrepreneurs across all regions
3. Development Partners to decentralize funding and directly resource grassroots and youth-led organizations
4. Young People to organize, collaborate across differences, vote, and hold leaders accountable

The diversity of our contexts is our strength. Our common aspiration must be our compass.

Let us move from tokenism to transformation.



____________

ABOUT YES AFRICA

Youth Empowerment Solutions Initiative – YES AFRICA is a Nigerian and African youth-focused organization committed to equipping young people with the skills, voice, and platforms to lead national development. We work across governance, democracy, peacebuilding, and civic engagement.

For Media Inquiries:
Contact: Adegoke Olufemi
Address: Kenuj 02 Mall, Kaura District, Abuja, Nigeria
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.yesafri.org

04/08/2026

Intentional Investment in Young People = National Development 🇳🇬

Nigeria’s greatest asset is not oil. It is our youth. Over 60% of our population is under 35. When we invest intentionally in their leadership, skills, and civic power, we invest in stability, innovation, and prosperity.

At YES Africa, we don’t just talk about youth. We equip them to govern, create jobs, and hold power accountable.

Because a nation that invests in its young people today, leads tomorrow.

28/07/2026

We are reflecting on our UnMUTE Conference 2026 and it reminded us why this work matters.

Through the UnMUTE Initiative, we are doing more than hosting conversations. We are giving voice to women and vulnerable populations whose stories are too often left out of the room.

We are building capacity — equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate fully in society. And we are advocating — pushing for their inclusion in governance, in decision-making, and in the policies that shape their lives.

UnMUTE is not just a conference. It’s a movement. A commitment that no woman, no vulnerable person, will be muted when it comes to leadership and democracy.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and stood with us. The work continues.

27/07/2026

On Thursday, 23rd July 2026, we were honoured to be invited by Yiaga Africa for a conversation with Pedro Abramovay, Vice President for Programs at the Open Society Foundations Open Society Foundations (OSF).

The discussion centered on Democracy, Civic Activism, and Youth Leadership in a Changing World — a conversation that couldn’t be more timely as Nigeria prepares for another general election.

Our Executive Director was represented by Fateemah Habeeb, a member of our Board of Trustees.

We thank Yiaga Africa for convening this important dialogue and the Open Society Foundations for their continued commitment to strengthening democratic values and supporting youth leadership across the globe.

At YES Africa, we remain committed to building a generation that decides to participate, lead, and hold power accountable.

24/07/2026

Collaboration is our operating system.

At YES Africa, we understand that sustainable change requires collective action.

Partnerships allow us to:
1. Leverage expertise - Learning from others to deliver better programs
2. Expand reach - Meeting people where they are, in more cities and communities
3. Drive policy and action - Bringing diverse voices to the table ahead of critical moments like the 2027 elections

From strategic alliances to grassroots coalitions across Nigeria and beyond, we are using collaboration to advance leadership development, civic participation, and peaceful democratic processes.

We are open to more partners. Let’s build together.

23/07/2026

With funding support from UNDP and Yiaga Africa, in 2022, just before the 2023 general election, we hosted the Value Your Vote Naija Youth Town Hall in Benin City, Edo State.

The Town Hall brought together critical stakeholders from Government, Civil Society, INEC, Security Agencies, Media, Youth and Women Groups, Political Parties, and members of the general public. During the meeting, we had honest conversations on the threats to democracy and co-created practical pathways to a free, fair, credible, inclusive, and peaceful general election in Nigeria.

The outcome was clear: when citizens, institutions, and young people sit at the same table, trust is built and elections are better.

Building on the impact of that engagement, we are now scaling up. As part of our ongoing plans ahead of the 2027 General Election, we will be hosting bigger, city-to-city conversations across Nigeria. These town-halls and policy dialogues will deepen voter education, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, amplify youth and women’s voices, and mobilize communities to defend democratic values.

Our goal remains the same: to ensure that in 2027, Nigerians vote in an environment that is peaceful, credible, and reflective of the will of the people.

21/07/2026

Our work on civic engagement is producing real results because we chose to put young people at the center. Across communities, we are seeing young people move from apathy to action — asking questions, holding leaders accountable, and leading conversations on the issues that affect them.

As we approach the forthcoming General Election, this momentum must not stop. Elections are not just about casting votes. They are about shaping the kind of country we want to live in.

Young people make up the largest voting bloc. That means the future of our democracy is in our hands.

The role ahead is clear: Get your PVC. Get informed. Mobilize your peers. Vote your values. Stay engaged after the election.

When young people show up, democracy works better. Let’s shape this election for good.

16/07/2026

At YES Africa, we believe that skills are power.

And when young people are skilled in leadership, governance, and civic engagement, nations move forward.