By Julius Peter, Abuja

The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Dr. Raymond Edoli, has called on Nigerian youths to take a more active role in leadership, saying the country can no longer afford to exclude young people from governance.

Edoli made the call while speaking at the official launch of two books, Leading to Make a Difference, Vol. 1 and Honouring 64 Extraordinary African Leaders: Not When They Are Gone – The Untold Story, Vol. 2, at the Leadership First Conference 2026.

According to him, the books, which were inspired by real-life experiences, provide important lessons on leadership, good governance and the contributions of African leaders to society.

Edoli, who said he travelled directly from the airport to attend the event, described the book launch and the author as particularly important to him, stressing that Nigeria’s leadership challenges could only be addressed by deliberately encouraging young people to participate in governance.

“I am just coming from the airport straight to tell you how important this event is, and also the person launching this book, how important it is to me,” he said.

He lamented what he described as the declining participation of young Nigerians in leadership, attributing the situation partly to the high cost of entering politics.

“If you take your mind back, you will agree that we lack a lot of youth in leadership. And the reason why we lack a lot of youth in leadership is because coming into leadership became so expensive that youths cannot afford it anymore,” Edoli said.

He said Leading to Make a Difference was particularly relevant because of its emphasis on encouraging young people to aspire to leadership and contribute positively to society.

According to him, the second volume, which honours 64 outstanding African leaders, also provides an opportunity for readers to learn from people who have contributed to good governance and shaped the continent.

“If you really take a glance at what he wrote here, ‘Leading to Make a Difference,’ you realise that this book is all about encouraging the youth to get into leadership and also trying to tell the whole world about the people that have really participated in good governance in order to shape the world that we are living in today,” he said.

Edoli therefore urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to obtain copies of the books, saying they contain lessons capable of influencing the next generation of leaders.

“I would tell everybody that they should pick a copy of this book. There are a lot of things to learn from this book that are going to shape the next generation of leadership in this country,” he said.

Explaining his decision to venture into politics, Edoli said the prevailing socio-economic challenges facing Benue State were among the major factors that motivated him to seek political office.

He noted that agriculture remains central to the identity and livelihood of the people of Benue, describing the state as predominantly agrarian.

“You see, the main reason why I came into leadership is because I realised that in Benue State, as all of you know, we are all farmers. There is no family in the whole state that you won’t see a farmer. Everybody, we are all farmers,” he said.

He, however, expressed concern that despite the state’s agricultural potential, many residents were struggling to meet their basic needs.

“But unfortunately for us today, we are looking for something to eat that we can’t even see. So this alone is quite traumatising for me as a citizen,” he added.

The NDC deputy governorship candidate said his exposure and experience had convinced him that he had a responsibility to contribute to solving some of the challenges confronting his people.

He said his decision to seek elective office was not primarily driven by personal ambition but by a desire to contribute to the development of Benue State and Nigeria.

“I have travelled wide, I’m able to put blood together as a citizen of this country, and I feel it is time for me to get into leadership to see how I can make my contribution,” Edoli said.

Edoli also outlined some of the priorities he said would guide his administration if elected, stressing that inclusivity and unity would be central to his leadership agenda.

According to him, the first responsibility of a government should be to ensure that every citizen feels a sense of belonging.

“If elected, the first thing we’re going to do as people or as leaders is to make sure that every citizen is one. We bring that inclusivity to leadership in the state,” he said.

He further promised to work towards rebuilding unity among the people of Benue State, alleging that political differences had contributed to divisions among the people.

“Secondly, we will also unite the people of Benue State, because at the moment we are divided by the so-called politicians,” he said.

Edoli argued that the current political environment should not continue to be defined by divisions, saying the people of Benue should focus on collective development.

“I believe at the moment it shouldn’t be a time where people talk about division in leadership anymore, but rather we should come together as people and see how we can build our state and our country together,” he said

Speaking on the prospects of the NDC ahead of the forthcoming election, Edoli expressed confidence in the party’s chances, describing it as a major political platform for Nigerians seeking a different approach to governance.

He said his decision to leave his former political party and join the NDC was motivated by his belief that Nigerians needed leaders who would put the interests of the people ahead of personal gains.

“I was in another political party before I moved to NDC, and the major reason why I moved to NDC was because I realised that it is time for us to be in leadership as people, not just people who just get into leadership for their selfish interest,” he said.

According to him, the party’s philosophy is centred on seeing Nigerians as one people and working with citizens rather than against them.

He expressed confidence that an NDC administration, from the presidential level to the states, could transform the country if elected.

“If next election, if elected, NDC leadership, which is from Peter Obi, Kwankwaso to myself in Benue State, I will assure you that, yes, we will change Nigeria,” Edoli said.

He stressed the need to end the perception that political office exists primarily for personal enrichment, arguing that elected officials should be accountable to the people.

“The time where people look at us and say, ‘Oh, it’s all about our pockets,’ must be corrected,” he said.

The message at the book launch also highlighted the importance of leadership as a responsibility that must be earned rather than merely pursued.

The theme of Leading to Make a Difference emphasises the idea that effective leadership requires credibility, sacrifice and a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others.

The second volume, Honouring 64 Extraordinary African Leaders: Not When They Are Gone – The Untold Story, similarly focuses attention on African leaders whose contributions deserve recognition while they are still alive and able to inspire succeeding generations.

The author also urged aspiring leaders to be willing to take unconventional paths, stressing that those who desire to become references in life must be prepared to take unfamiliar routes.

The Leadership First Conference 2026 therefore provided a platform for discussions around responsible leadership, youth participation, good governance and the need to recognise positive African leadership.

For Edoli, the lessons from the books go beyond the pages, serving as a call to Nigerian youths to prepare themselves for leadership and to Nigerians generally to demand leadership that prioritises the welfare of the people.

He maintained that Nigeria’s future depends largely on the quality and commitment of the next generation of leaders, urging young Nigerians to move beyond criticism and actively participate in building the country they desire.