Who We Are

We advocate for youth-friendly policies and legislation at the federal, states and local government
levels. Specifically through:

• Sponsoring and supporting bills that promote youth development, education, employment, entrepreneurship, and social welfare.
• Developing policy briefs and reports that guide lawmakers and stakeholders in creating impactful reforms.
• Advocacy campaigns to engage policymakers and educate the public on youth legislative priorities

To boost the participation of young people in legislative arms of governments and to help ensure young legislators play a full part in the work of legislature, YIPF offers targeted training and mentorship programs, for young including:

• Workshops on legislative processes, governance best practices, and policy formulation.
• Mentorship from senior legislators and governance experts to help young parliamentarians navigate their roles effectively.
• A peer-to-peer learning program for lawmakers, a structured initiative that brings together legislators—often from different LGAs or states or countries, or political backgrounds—to share experiences, best practices, and practical solutions for common challenges in governance and policy making.

YIPF offers leadership programs for young legislators and political actors to develop young and emerging leaders through dialogue, mentorship, and experiential learning. Their leadership programs focus on democratic values, peace-building, digital and green transitions, and inclusive governance.
These programs often combine residential fellowships, virtual learning, and in-person convenings to build networks and leadership competencies aligned with the legislative priorities. YIPF’s flagship leadership initiatives include

• The Young Legislators’ Leadership Development (YLLD) Programme is designed to enhance leadership skills and competencies amongst serving young legislators across the country.
• The Young Political Leaders Programme is YIPF’s flagship initiative connecting young political activists across the country. It promotes dialogue, peace-building, reconciliation, and democratic values across the country. It focuses on fostering a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and democratic engagement among future leaders.
• Model National Assembly Program is a leadership and educational simulation program designed to immerse young Nigerians in the workings of the National Assembly by role-playing its institutions and decision-making processes. These programs aim to deepen youth understanding of the country’s policies, governance, and diplomacy through experiential learning.

YIPF fosters a network of young lawmakers across Nigeria and beyond, encouraging knowledge sharing through:

• Exchange Programs – YIPF facilitates study visits, interactive sessions, and international collaborations with established parliamentary bodies to promote global best practices in youth governance. YIPF also facilitates exchange programs between young legislators at both the federal and state legislatures.
• Joint legislative efforts to tackle national challenges such as youth unemployment, education reform, and digital innovation.

We conduct research and collect data on legislative and youth-related issues: to inform the design and improvement of youth policies and frameworks, to understand barriers to youth participation in policy making, to strengthen youth engagement in governance, and to support capacity building for both youth and lawmakers. YIPF specifically carries out the following research related activities:

• Empirical research and case studies
• Analyses of existing laws and Bills
• Data collection and Analysis Activities – YIPF collect data on legislative activities such as sponsored bills and motions, and matters of urgent public importance, that informs its initiatives or interventions and policy advocacy
• Monitoring and Evaluation – YIPF monitors the implementation of youth-focused policies and legislatures to ensure accountability and government efficiency

Collaboration is at the heart of YIPF’s mission. We actively engage and partner with relevant stakeholders, including:

• Government agencies to implement youth-driven policies.
• Civil society organizations (CSOs) that advocate for youth rights and development.
• International bodies and development partners to access funding, resources, and technical support.
• The private sector to create economic opportunities for young people.