Nigeria’s youth movements over the past decade have transformed civic engagement. They have driven policy reform, used digital tools for advocacy, and forced national debate on accountability and governance. Three verified turning points illustrate this shift: the founding of Enough is Enough (EiE) in 2010, the Not Too Young to Run constitutional amendment in 2018, and the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
Together, these movements represent a new political culture where young citizens, leveraging technology and networks, assert their right to reform governance.
Enough is Enough (EiE) and Early Digital Civic Mobilisation (2010–2015)
Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) began in 2010 during a period of national uncertainty. The illness of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the fuel scarcity crisis provoked nationwide frustration. Youth-led coalitions and civil society groups organised a peaceful protest to the National Assembly in March 2010, marking the beginning of EiE as a platform for civic accountability and citizen education.
From its inception, EiE utilised SMS campaigns, email newsletters, and social media to mobilise participation. It promoted the RSVP campaign — Register, Select, Vote, Protect — which encouraged young Nigerians to register to vote, engage in issue-based debates, and monitor elections.
EiE’s work extended into the 2011 and 2015 general elections, partnering with other NGOs to demand transparency from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Its sustained presence across digital and physical platforms established it as one of Nigeria’s first hybrid civic tech movements.
Not Too Young To Run: Legal Reform and Political Inclusion (2016–2018)
One of the most visible youth-led legislative achievements emerged in 2018 through the Not Too Young To Run campaign. Coordinated by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA Africa), with support from EiE and other networks, the campaign advocated lowering the constitutional age limits for public office.
The Fourth Alteration (No. 27) to the 1999 Constitution, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on 31 May 2018, reduced age limits for the House of Assembly and House of Representatives from 30 to 25 years, and for the Presidency from 40 to 35 years.
Contrary to some public perception, the amendment did not introduce independent candidacy, that proposal was debated but excluded from the final reform. Age thresholds for governors and senators remained at 35.
Despite these limitations, the amendment symbolised a generational breakthrough. It demonstrated that sustained advocacy, coalition-building, and legislative lobbying could lead to concrete constitutional change.
#EndSARS and Mass Mobilisation (2020)
In October 2020, young Nigerians once again catalysed a nationwide movement, this time against police brutality. Decades of reports about abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) culminated in online outrage after new videos of extrajudicial killings circulated.
Using social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, activists coordinated nationwide demonstrations under the hashtag #EndSARS. The protests were decentralised, leaderless, and organised through livestreams, crowdfunding, and digital volunteer networks.
Demonstrations occurred across major cities; Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, and others, demanding disbandment of SARS, justice for victims, and comprehensive police reform.
On 20 October 2020, events at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos turned tragic. Eyewitnesses, media outlets, and human rights monitors reported that military personnel opened fire on peaceful protesters. The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses later found that force used at Lekki was “unwarranted and disproportionate,” violating established rules of engagement.
Amnesty International estimated at least 12 people were killed at Lekki and Alausa combined, though the exact death toll remains disputed. The federal government denied authorising lethal force but later acknowledged that live rounds had been fired. The episode remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial modern human rights events.
Policy Outcomes and Continuing Challenges
The Lagos Judicial Panel’s report, submitted in 2021, recommended compensation for victims’ families, prosecution of officers implicated, and broad security sector reforms. Implementation of these recommendations has been limited and uneven.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations and survivors continue to demand justice, transparency, and memorialisation of victims.
Politically, the Not Too Young to Run law opened legal opportunities for youth participation, though barriers of financing, internal party control, and elite dominance persist. EiE and related organisations continue to push civic education, voter awareness, and accountability through digital platforms.
Digital Innovation and New Activist Models
The recent decade of activism has introduced new strategies in Nigerian civic life. Livestreaming, video evidence, and crowdfunding have become tools for advocacy, transparency, and mobilisation.
Through platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, youth movements bypassed traditional hierarchies, exposing state abuses and coordinating humanitarian aid and legal defence. Digital spaces have thus become the new public square for civic participation.
Author’s Note
Youth-led movements in Nigeria since 2010 have achieved demonstrable outcomes: constitutional reform, civic awareness, and national debate on governance and justice. While not all demands have been fulfilled, these campaigns reshaped how citizens understand protest and participation.
The story of EiE, Not Too Young to Run, and #EndSARS reflects both the promise and the limits of youth influence in a deeply entrenched political system.
References
Enough Is Enough (Nigeria) — EiE official site (2010–2024).
Library of Congress / Global Legal Monitor — “Nigeria: Constitution Amended to Lower Age Requirement for Holding Elected Offices” (2018).
Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report — Findings on Lekki Toll Gate and SARS-related abuses (2021).
Amnesty International — “Nigeria: #EndSARS protests and human rights violations” (2020–2021).
TIME Magazine and The Guardian Nigeria — Reports on #EndSARS demonstrations (2020).
African Examiner — Coverage of panel recommendations and implementation challenges (2021).
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