In a hall filled with the energy of young minds eager to make sense of their country’s political future, two academics from the University of Ibadan delivered a powerful message that resonated far beyond the walls of academia: Nigerian youth must not sit on the sidelines in 2027. Dr. Ridwan Kolawole and Dr. Kingsley Ogunne urged young Nigerians to see themselves not as passive observers of democracy but as indispensable stakeholders whose participation can shape the direction of the nation. Their call came at the sixth edition of the Billy Dudley Symposium, organized by the Political Science Students Press Organisation (POSSPRESS) at the University of Ibadan. With the theme “The Political Arena: Youth, Media and the Road to Nigeria’s 2027 Election,” the event brought together students, academics, and practitioners in a rich exchange of ideas on political communication, electoral integrity, and the pressing challenges confronting the country. The symposium was not merely a formal academic exercise; it was an invitation to young people to reflect deeply on their role in the democratic process and to ask hard questions about who truly holds power and who watches over it. For the students seated in the audience, the message was clear: the future of Nigeria is not something that will happen to them; it is something they must actively build, question, and defend. The urgency in the speakers’ voices reflected a broader anxiety about the state of democracy in Nigeria and the need for informed, engaged citizens. But there was also hope — the hope that with one of the largest youth populations in the world, Nigeria possesses the human potential to transform its democracy if young people rise to the occasion. The symposium, named in honor of the late renowned political scientist Billy Joseph Stanley Oritsesaninomi Dudley, served as a fitting reminder that political knowledge is not a luxury but a necessity for anyone who wishes to understand and influence the forces shaping their lives.
Dr. Kolawole, whose presentation was titled “Who Watches the Watchdog? Youth, Media, and Electoral Accountability in 2027,” focused on a critical yet often overlooked dimension of electioneering: the media. He argued that young people must pay close attention to how the media frames political developments during elections. This is not simply a matter of being well-informed; it is a matter of survival for democracy itself. If citizens do not understand the context behind political messages, they become vulnerable to manipulation and can easily make choices that do not reflect their true interests. Kolawole’s central metaphor — the watchdog — raised a troubling question: if the media is supposed to watch over politicians, who watches the media? In an age of clickbait, partisan reporting, and viral falsehoods, the answer cannot be left to journalists alone. The youth, as major consumers of digital content, must develop the skills to evaluate what they see, read, and share. Social media platforms have become the primary arena where political information circulates, providing young people with unprecedented access to news, opinions, and debates. Yet this access is a double-edged sword. Election periods are marked by competing political claims and a dizzying volume of information, making the role of professional journalism more important than ever. Journalists provide context, verify facts, and report developments with nuance. But even professional reporting can be shaped by editorial biases, ownership interests, and political pressure. Kolawole warned that youth must be wary of manipulation through misinformation and disinformation. He pointed specifically to the practice of recycling old media messages and presenting them as new, a tactic often used to deceive the public and create false narratives. For example, an old video of a politician making a promise can be recirculated to make it appear that the promise was made recently, thereby distorting the politician’s record or inciting outrage. Such tactics are designed to exploit emotional reactions, especially among young and impressionable audiences. To counter this, Kolawole urged students to be active, critical consumers of media — not just passive recipients of content. They should cross-check information, seek out reliable sources, and hold media organizations accountable for the quality of their reporting. In doing so, they would fulfill their own watchdog role as stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
Dr. Kolawole’s warning was not an indictment of the media but rather a call for a more mature and sophisticated relationship between citizens and the information ecosystem. He encouraged young people to follow election coverage actively and to stay engaged with developments as they unfold, rather than tuning in only during moments of crisis or spectacle. He emphasized that democracy is not a spectator sport; it requires sustained attention, deliberation, and participation. When young people disengage, they leave space for others — sometimes with dubious intentions — to define the political agenda. When they engage, they become difficult to ignore. Their numbers, their online presence, and their ability to amplify issues through social media give them a collective voice that politicians cannot afford to dismiss. But engagement must be rooted in knowledge. The media shapes public understanding of electoral issues, and if young people do not understand how that shaping occurs, they may end up supporting candidates and policies that work against their own interests. Kolawole’s advice was practical: watch how stories are framed, notice what is left out, question the timing of news releases, and be aware that every piece of information has a perspective. By developing these habits, young Nigerians can protect themselves from being used as tools in political games. They can also become more effective advocates for the issues they care about, whether those are jobs, education, healthcare, security, or good governance. The symposium, with its focus on political communication, provided a rare space for students to grapple with these issues in a thoughtful and critical manner. It encouraged them to think of the media not just as a source of entertainment or gossip but as a battlefield where the future of their country is being contested. And it reminded them that they have a role to play in ensuring that the battle is fought with honesty and integrity. The atmosphere in the room was one of quiet determination, as students listened to Kolawole’s words and considered what it would mean to truly watch the watchdogs.
Earlier in the programme, Dr. Kingsley Ogunne, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan and a public relations practitioner, took a different but complementary angle. He examined the gap between young people’s online activism and their actual political influence. Ogunne acknowledged that Nigerian youth are highly active online, using platforms like X, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to discuss politics, share opinions, and organize campaigns. But he challenged them to move beyond digital engagement and think about how their demographic strength can translate into real-world power. Nigeria is home to one of the largest youth populations in the world. This is not just a statistic; it is a political resource. When young people vote in large numbers, they can determine the outcome of elections. When they organize around shared interests, they can force candidates to address their concerns. Yet too often, their potential is squandered through apathy, cynicism, or division. Ogunne stressed that the numerical strength of Nigerian youths is an advantage that must be harnessed strategically. He called on them to register to vote, to obtain their permanent voter cards, to participate in party primaries, and to hold elected officials accountable after elections. Voting, he reminded them, is not the end of democracy but the beginning. It is the moment when citizens choose who will exercise power on their behalf — but that power must be continually monitored, challenged, and directed. Ogunne also spoke about the importance of moving from being “influencers” in the digital sense to being influencers in the civic sense: people who shape the values, priorities, and decisions of their communities. This requires not only social media savvy but also political literacy, organizational skills, and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations. It requires young people to see themselves as leaders, not just followers. The 2027 elections, he argued, are an opportunity for young Nigerians to assert their relevance as indispensable stakeholders in the Nigerian state. But that opportunity will be lost if they wait for someone else to lead. The responsibility is theirs — individually and collectively.
The symposium was opened by Mr. Olayemi Ogunleye, Editor-in-Chief of the Political Science Students Press Organisation (POSSPRESS), who set the tone for the day by explaining the purpose of the gathering. He noted that the Billy Dudley Symposium was not designed merely as an academic ritual, but as a platform for young people to think critically about their role in Nigeria’s political and democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections. Billy Joseph Stanley Oritsesaninomi Dudley, after whom the symposium was named, was a renowned political scientist whose work on Nigerian politics and democracy continues to inspire scholars and students. By invoking his legacy, Ogunleye reminded the audience that political education is rooted in a tradition of rigorous inquiry and public responsibility. The symposium, he said, aimed to create spaces where young people can engage critically with politics, the media, and the issues that shape society. This is especially important in a country where politics is often seen as dirty, dangerous, or reserved for the wealthy and well-connected. By bringing students together with academics and practitioners, the event sought to demystify politics and show that it can be a noble calling. The programme also featured Speechcraft 7.0, organized by the Literary and Debate (L&D) Society and led by Borere Yakub. With the theme “MACHTKAMP: Power Struggle,” Speechcraft provided participants with a platform to demonstrate their oratory, public-speaking, argumentative, and critical-thinking abilities. The interdepartmental debate that followed was a highlight of the event, as teams from the Department of Political Science and the Department of Philosophy faced off in a battle of ideas. The debate was not just a contest of rhetoric; it was a practical exercise in the very skills that the symposium sought to cultivate. To debate is to listen, to analyze, to respond, and to persuade — all essential abilities for anyone who wishes to participate meaningfully in democratic life. In the end, the Department of Political Science emerged as the winner. But in a deeper sense, everyone in attendance won, because they were reminded that the power struggle that defines politics is not simply about who holds office, but about whose ideas, values, and visions will shape the future.
As the symposium drew to a close, the message that lingered in the air was one of empowerment and responsibility. The 2027 general elections are not far away, and the decisions made in the coming years will determine the trajectory of Nigeria for decades. The academics who spoke at the Billy Dudley Symposium made it clear that young people cannot afford to be bystanders in this process. They are not merely voters-in-waiting; they are citizens with the power to shape the political landscape. The media, for all its flaws, remains a vital source of information and accountability. But it cannot do the work of citizenship alone. Young Nigerians must be vigilant, critical, and engaged. They must watch not only what politicians say and do but also how the media reports those words and actions. They must demand better from their leaders and from themselves. The call to “watch the watchdog” is ultimately a call to self-awareness: to recognize that in a democracy, the ultimate guardians of truth and accountability are the people themselves. The symposium provided a glimpse of what is possible when young people are given the tools and encouragement to think deeply about their political responsibilities. It showed that there is hunger among the youth for knowledge, for dialogue, and for change. It also showed that institutions like the University of Ibadan and organizations like POSSPRESS are willing to create spaces for that hunger to be nourished. As the students left the hall, they carried with them more than notes and handshakes. They carried a challenge. The road to 2027 is long and uncertain, but it is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the choices of millions of young Nigerians. Whether those choices lead to a more accountable, just, and responsive political system depends on whether the youth answer the call that was issued at the sixth Billy Dudley Symposium. The question is not whether they can make a difference. The question is whether they will choose to. For those who were in that room, the answer seemed clear: they will not be silent, they will not be passive, and they will not allow the watchdogs to go unwatched. The 2027 elections will be a test, and they intend to pass it. This is the human story behind the political science — the story of a generation realizing that its voice, once raised, cannot be ignored. And it is only the beginning.