MITTA founder pushes youth leadership, institutional reforms

Pan-African media entrepreneur Adebola Williams has urged young Africans to channel civic engagement into governance and institutional leadership, arguing that long-term development depends on participation in decision-making rather than protests alone.

Williams, founder of RED Africa and the MITTA Africa Centre, made the call at the 13th Human Rights Forum of Essaouira in Morocco, held alongside the Le Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde, according to a statement by RED Africa.

He said in a statement on Monday that while civic movements have played an important role in driving public awareness and accountability, sustainable change requires greater participation in governance.

Reflecting on his involvement in civic campaigns in Nigeria, including the Enough Is Enough platform, Occupy Nigeria in 2012, and the Bring Back Our Girls campaign in 2013, Williams said the impact of such movements should ultimately translate into structured engagement in public institutions.

“Power ultimately lies in institutions, and after protesting, young people and women must demand a seat at the table,” he said, adding that meaningful transformation requires engagement in policy formulation, leadership structures and public administration.

Williams argued that protests can raise civic consciousness but are not sufficient on their own to achieve systemic reform.

“Protests can open the door, but power for systemic change ultimately lies in institutions. Young people and women must move from just demanding to getting a seat, participating fully in governance, policy formulation and structured leadership,” he said.

According to the statement, Williams also highlighted the growing role of culture in Africa’s political and social development, saying the continent’s creative industries, including music, storytelling and digital media, represent soft power that should be strategically harnessed.

During the forum, he announced plans to launch the MITTA Africa Centre, describing it as a youth-focused initiative built around four pillars, with storytelling as its central focus.

He added that the initiative is expected to expand across African countries through national centres.

Arinze Nwafor is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s economy, industry, data, metro, and judiciary. He focuses on highlighting growth, policy, and market challenges shaping Africa’s largest economy. Arinze’s reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, informative, and audience-focused journalism.