By Adeola Kunle
Olawande urges youths to move beyond dialogue and develop practical solutions for Nigeria
The Federal Government has announced plans to hold the 2026 National Youth Confab in October, bringing together young Nigerians from across the country to deliberate on issues affecting their generation and contribute ideas towards national development.
The conference will feature one youth delegate from each of Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies, in addition to six representatives of Nigerians in the diaspora and other relevant stakeholders.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this known on Thursday during a press conference organised ahead of the National Youth Confab at the Press Gallery of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
With the theme, “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,” the two-week programme will begin with a nationwide virtual consultation before proceeding to a physical conference in Abuja.
Olawande said the initiative would give Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 an opportunity to identify challenges confronting young people, present policy recommendations and develop practical solutions that can contribute to the country’s development.
He described young Nigerians as active participants in nation-building rather than merely future leaders, stressing that their ideas, experiences and involvement remain important to Nigeria’s progress.
According to him, discussions at the Confab will cover several critical areas, including governance and leadership, economic transformation and job creation, education and skills development, technology and innovation, climate change and energy transition, social harmony, and security.
The Minister explained that the Federal Government was seeking outcomes that would go beyond discussions, noting that the Confab would provide an avenue for participants to listen to one another, collaborate and translate ideas into concrete action.
To ensure that the resolutions reached at the event do not end with the conference, Olawande disclosed plans to establish a Multi-Stakeholder Youth Confab Taskforce, Youth Confab Impact Index and a youth-led monitoring and accountability framework.
These mechanisms, he said, would help track the implementation and long-term impact of the outcomes of the Confab.
The Minister encouraged young Nigerians in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to take an active part in the process by submitting their ideas, proposals and personal experiences.
He assured young Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Youth Development was prepared to listen and that the Federal Government was committed to engaging them in shaping the future of the country.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Chairman of the National Youth Confab Committee, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, described the initiative as an important platform for strengthening youth participation in national development.
Keshinro said the Confab would enable young Nigerians to play a direct role in developing solutions to challenges affecting their generation.
She called on youths and other stakeholders to embrace the process and make meaningful contributions towards achieving the objectives of the national engagement.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media, Otega Ogra, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the Confab and praised members of the National Youth Confab Committee for taking on the responsibility of turning the President’s vision for young Nigerians into a meaningful national engagement.
Ogra said the administration had continued to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to take up important responsibilities and contribute to national development.
He encouraged participants to use the Confab as an avenue to present fresh ideas and workable solutions that could support Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The presidential aide urged young Nigerians to take advantage of the platform to clearly communicate their aspirations and contribute to discussions on the direction they want the country to take.
Adeola Kunle
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