… as it marks one -year anniversary

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A youth group, operating under the aegis of Youth Creative Consortium, YCC, has ignited a fresh political conversation in Nigeria as its Convener, Blaise Kizito-Ndukwe, boldly projected that a Nigerian youth would emerge President in 2035, declaring that the era of recycled leadership was nearing its end.

Addressing a packed town hall to mark the group’s one-year anniversary,in Abuja on Wednesday, Ndukwe said the movement was strategically positioning young Nigerians to occupy the highest offices in the land , from the presidency to governorships and legislative seats ,within the next decade.

In a speech laced with confidence and defiance, he declared that YCC was preparing to “retire the old people” from power, not through hostility but by building a new generation of competent, disciplined and innovative leaders capable of steering Nigeria and Africa toward stability and prosperity.

The anniversary event, rather than a ceremonial celebration, was framed as a strategic convergence of youth leaders committed to combating insecurity through what Ndukwe described as the “Silencing the Guns” initiative , a continental peace agenda anchored on creativity and empowerment.

“The mandate is clear. Silencing the guns begins long before conflict escalates. It begins with inclusion, empowerment and responsible leadership. We are not disarming those who already carry guns; we are blocking those who might carry them tomorrow, “he told participants.

He revealed that the group had officially transferred the peace mandate to its continental, regional and state leaders, urging them to return to their communities and deploy structured, non-violent engagements to prevent youth radicalisation.

Seeking broader continental backing, Ndukwe appealed to the African Union for enhanced coordination, insisting that youth-driven peacebuilding must become a shared African project rather than an isolated Nigerian effort.

“What began as a bold idea has become a continental youth-driven peace model,” he said.

“We are not partisan. We are youth-focused. Our goal is to silence the guns in Africa before 2030 through creativity, diplomacy, innovation and empowerment.”

Highlighting what he termed “a decade’s achievement in one year,” Ndukwe said YCC had secured partnership with the African Union’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department and hosted a major continental conference in Abuja attended by over 2,000 youths and African leaders.

The event drew high-profile dignitaries including President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; AU officials; Ambassador Bankole Adeoye; members of the National Assembly; the Minister of Youth Development; traditional rulers; and activist Senator Shehu Sani.

Ndukwe said the group had also launched permanent training programmes in Ogun and Lagos States, established coordinators across the 36 states, and deployed youth observers to elections in Guinea-Bissau and Egypt, as well as engagements at the United Nations General Assembly.

He added that YCC participated in Burundi’s Youth Peace Security Dialogue at the invitation of its president and contributed members to an African Union peacekeeping mission in Liberia, reinforcing its continental footprint.

The consortium hosted a Peace and Security Council simulation involving four Nigerian universities, where over 40 youths role-played as commissioners from 17 Sahel states ,an exercise he said demonstrated Africa-led, youth-driven governance solutions.

With over $100,000 in sponsorship secured for upcoming programmes, YCC announced plans to host “YCC 2.0” in East Africa by mid-2026 in collaboration with Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania, focusing on student unions and pan-African change-makers.

Looking ahead to Nigeria’s electoral cycle, Ndukwe declared that YCC would deploy observers across all 774 local government areas during the 2027 general elections, positioning the group as a watchdog for democratic integrity.

In perhaps his most audacious prediction, he asserted: “President Tinubu will win in 2027. Whoever succeeds him in 2031 will not return for a second term. By 2035, YCC will take over.” The statement drew applause and underscored the group’s long-term political ambition.

On the sidelines, Ndukwe challenged Nigerian youths to shift focus from entertainment obsession to nation-building, lamenting what he described as misplaced priorities.

“Youth are not leaders of tomorrow. Youth are leaders of today,” he declared, urging them to build capacity rather than chase social media fame.

Former Kaduna Senator and activist, Shehu Sani, who delivered a keynote goodwill message, reinforced the call for political engagement, urging young Nigerians to stop limiting activism to online complaints and instead enter political parties to contest for power.

Quoting Frantz Fanon, Sani reminded the gathering that every generation must discover its mission. He emphasized unity, peace and economic opportunity as pillars for national advancement, pointing to global tech entrepreneurs and Nigerian billionaires as proof that prosperity is achievable at home.

Sani further challenged political leaders to create enabling environments for youth advancement, warning that failure to educate and empower young people would entrench a “dynasty of poverty.”

He stressed that today’s political office holders were once young aspirants who prepared strategically for leadership.

As the event closed, the message from Abuja was unmistakable: a new generation is organising, strategising and preparing not merely to participate in governance , but to redefine it.

Whether 2035 becomes the watershed year for youth power remains to be seen, but YCC has made one thing clear -the countdown has begun.