Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said the implementation of the Not-too-Young-to-Run Act is becoming practically impossible for about 99.9 per cent of youth aspirants.

Lamido, who spoke at the 2026 International Youth Day organised by the office of the National Youth Leader of Nyesom Wike-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said many young people trying to contest election, has cost of running elections to contend with.

The former governor, who was represented by PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State, Isah Pantami, stated that the cost of expression of interest form, campaign expenses, election management, among others, are difficult for young aspirants to meet.

“But if you look at what is being demanded for you to contest an election, House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, president, then you discover that the actual statement of Not-too-Young is only about an academic work where we have a law in place.

“The statement is only theoretical, but in practice it is not possible,” Lamido said.

He advised that the system should be subsidised “to the extent that when we say Not-too-Young, then there is a provision for that.”

Lamido, however, stated that he knew that the PDP has subsidised certain things for young aspirants, noting that young gubernatorial aspirants pay only N21 million both for the nomination and expression of interest forms, while women aspirants pay N1 billion.

PDP National Youth Leader, Ibrahim Bala-Aboki, in his welcome remarks, disclosed that his office is collaborating with Destiny Hotshot Synergy International to train 100 youths under the Train-the-Trainers Initiative.

Bala-Aboki disclosed that the aim is to empower youths across the 36 states of the country and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Upon successful completion of the training, the 100 beneficiaries will serve as trainers, each responsible for training 50 youths in each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), thereby creating a sustainable multiplier effect and expanding access to practical skills development nationwide.

“The training will focus on various vocational and entrepreneurial skills, including photography, shoe making, duvet making, hair cream production, soap making, shampoo production, air freshener production, aftershave production, and other income-generating skills.

“This initiative is designed to promote youth empowerment, self-reliance, entrepreneurship, job creation, and sustainable livelihoods across the country,” he said.