Ake Festival 2022 | PANEL DISCUSSION | ART FOR ADVANCING CIVIC PARTICIPATION

This special panel will explore ideas around advancing youth and women’s civic participation in Nigeria, resulting in opportunities for healthy and more robust public debate. With representatives from civil society, the media world and the creative writing community, Toyin Akinniyi will pose timely and pertinent questions to Cynthia Mbamalu, Odeh Friday and Nnamdi Anyadu. Are we ready to take the necessary steps to improve and encourage civic participation? What creative ways can we deploy to support the youth in Nigeria so that they have greater agency over the issues that affect them? How do we address the inherited cultural norms that silence women? How can we address the barriers to inclusive participation in Nigeria?