Kayode Ajulo urges youth to take ownership of political power, demands deeper system reforms

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), has called on young Nigerians to take full ownership of the country’s political space, insisting that their numerical strength in the electorate must translate into leadership and governance influence.

Ajulo made the call on Tuesday, during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he spoke on youth participation in governance, education reform, and systemic implementation gaps in Nigeria’s development framework.

He argued that while youths dominate voting populations across the country, they remain significantly underrepresented in elective and appointive positions, describing the situation as a consequence of weak mobilisation rather than outright exclusion.

“The average percentage of voters in any society are youths, so sometimes I begin to wonder, how come it is not youths that are emerging as leaders? How come the same youths who dominate the voting population are not the ones taking over leadership positions? It shows that there is still a gap in terms of mobilisation and strategic participation,” he said.

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Ajulo insisted that political power is not handed out but actively taken through structured engagement, discipline, and lawful participation.

“It is your game, it is your business, you have to put your people forward. Power is not something that will be served to you a la carte, it is more like a buffet where you have to stand up, step forward, and take what belongs to you within the confines of the law,” he added.

■ IMPLEMENTATION GAP STILL UNDERMINING NATIONAL PROGRESS

Beyond political participation, the Ondo Attorney General stressed that Nigeria’s broader governance failure lies in implementation rather than lack of policy or legal frameworks, warning that this affects youth development outcomes across sectors.

According to him, many policies already favour youth inclusion, but weak enforcement continues to distort intended results.

“It is about implementation, it is about implementation and, if I must say, political will… but sometimes you may even have the political will, but who are those championing it, who are those running it, who are those driving that implementation?” he said.

Ajulo noted that the disconnect between policy design and execution remains the biggest barrier to progress.

“Nigeria… is not lacking in laws. If anything, we are overburdened with several laws and regulations, but the issue is the rightful application and utilization of these laws,” he said.

He added that institutional inefficiencies and personal interests often weaken governance structures meant to empower citizens, especially young people.

“Some of us seem to be selfish, some of us seem to be operating within our own interests… once we begin to put sentiment aside and do what is right for the larger society, many of these issues will naturally resolve themselves,” he stated.

■ “CERTIFICATE IS NOT ENOUGH” — PUSH FOR SKILL-BASED EDUCATION

Ajulo also used the opportunity to critique Nigeria’s education system, arguing that excessive focus on academic certificates has limited youth employability and innovation.

He maintained that competence, adaptability, and practical skills are now more valuable than academic credentials alone.

“The issue we have is that we place too much premium on certificates instead of competence… some individuals who did not graduate with the best grades end up doing better in life because they focused on developing practical skills,” he said.

He stressed that modern success requires emotional and social intelligence alongside academic knowledge.

“It is not just about intellectual intelligence, you also need social intelligence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to adapt and solve real-life problems,” he added.

Ajulo further advocated for a shift in Nigeria’s education curriculum to reflect global realities.

“If I have my way, our educational curriculum should be structured in such a way that about 80 percent is practical and entrepreneurial knowledge, while maybe 20 percent is theoretical,” he said.

■ ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PRACTICAL TRAINING AS NATIONAL PRIORITY

Linking education reform to economic survival, the Attorney General emphasised that entrepreneurship must become central to Nigeria’s learning system to address unemployment and overdependence on white-collar jobs.

He noted that practical exposure and mentorship are essential to preparing young people for real-world challenges.He also commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under its current leadership for introducing a mentorship framework aimed at guiding young lawyers, describing it as a model for other professions.

That is why I must commend the Nigerian Bar Association today, under the leadership of Mazi Afam Osigwe, for the first time in the history of the Bar, setting up a mentorship committee specifically to guide young lawyers. I have the privilege of serving as the pioneer chairman of that body, and it is a deliberate effort to teach motivation, mentorship, and how young lawyers can rise through the ranks. Many of those we interact with today openly admit that nobody exposed them to these realities before now, and I think that is the best way to go.”

According to him, structured mentorship bridges the gap between academic theory and professional reality, particularly in law where graduates often enter practice without adequate exposure to practical realities.

■ “POLICIES EXIST, BUT REALITY IS DIFFERENT” — SYSTEMIC CONTRADICTIONS

Ajulo warned that despite well-written policies on youth empowerment and recruitment, implementation gaps continue to produce contradictions within institutions.

He pointed out that age limits and youth-focused recruitment guidelines are often ignored in practice.

“You go into offices today… and you will still find individuals well above the expected age still in service, having manipulated their records,” he said.

He argued that such practices block opportunities meant for younger Nigerians and worsen unemployment.

“These are the things we need to address, because those positions are meant to create space for young people to come in,” he added.

■ JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS AND YOUTH-CENTRIC IMPACT

Ajulo further explained that reforms within the Ondo State justice system are inherently youth-focused, given that young people form the majority of justice system users.He highlighted reforms such as increasing the number of judges, automation of courts, and expansion of legal aid services.

“From our findings and research, the major subscribers of justice in Ondo State are actually young people… so when we talk about reform, it naturally becomes youth-focused,” he said.
He noted that increasing judges from 24 to 35 was a landmark reform aimed at reducing case backlog and improving access to justice.

He also referenced the deployment of volunteer legal aides, stating that over 270 young lawyers were engaged to support justice delivery without financial burden on the state.
Ajulo reiterated that Nigeria’s development trajectory depends on how well it engages its youth population through implementation-driven governance, education reform, and political inclusion.

He maintained that while policies exist, the real challenge remains execution.

“At the end of the day, it still comes back to implementation… if we are able to properly channel the energy of our young people into productive ventures, then we will unlock a lot of potential in this country,” he said.

He concluded that the youth remain central to Nigeria’s future, both as leaders and as the driving force of national transformation.