AS the 2019 general elections gather momentum, an NGO, Youngstars Development Initiative, says it has commenced the process of mobilising youths in the country to aspire for elective positions in the 2019 general elections.

Mr Kingsley Bangwell, the Executive Director of the NGO, disclosed this in Kaduna on Tuesday at the four-day workshop, organised by the NGO for youths in the state.

He said the exercise was aimed at increasing the capacity of young people to run for political offices and emerge winners.

“There are many youths out there who want to contest but do not have the skill to run.

‘’That is why we decided to come up with a platform that will prepare young people on how to run and win elective positions.

“We will provide them with basic knowledge on how to run for an office, electoral process, how to set up campaign team and how to communicate with the media,’’ he said.

Bangwell explained that the workshop was organised with support from FORD Foundation West Africa, under the Youth Aspirants Leadership Fellowship (YALF) Project-2018.

He also said that the organization ran an inclusive policy, by including persons with disabilities among the 90 participants from the North-West and North-East zone for the workshop.

“Persons with disabilities are very important to us because there is ability in disability.”

Bangwell, who said that the preparatory session would be continuous, called on government and relevant stakeholders to support the cause of the exercise.

“We are calling on government and relevant stakeholders to support this kind of workshop to train young people and prepare them on political leadership so as have to quality leaders.’’

Meanwhile, some participants at the workshop said they hoped to leave the workshop, better equipped to aspire for elective positions in further elections in the country.

Mr Dahiru Gambo, a visually impaired person from Kastina state, said that he intended to run for Katsina Central Senatorial seat.

He promised to maximise the opportunity of the workshop to learn how to mobilise people for support to ensure victory during election.

“I expect to learn how to mobilise people to support me and sensitise them that, there is ability in disability. Whatever an able man can do, a disabled man can also do,’’ he said.

Another participant, Sidi Aliyu from Yobe said he intended to run for the state House of Assembly seat and such, expected to gain knowledge from the programme to ensure his victory.

“I expect to gain knowledge on how to raise funds and how to organise campaign, come 2019,’’ he said.

Hassana Bashir, a participant from Kano state, who said her passion to help women and children influenced her decision to join politics, said she expected to learn advocacy skills.

“I want to run for a seat at the State House of Assembly, and as such, expect to learn advocacy skills and improve my capacity,’’ she said. (NAN)

– Apr. 17, 2018 @ 16:45 GMT

AE