The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, has officially inaugurated the State Technical Committees (STCs) for the National Youth Conference (Youth Confab 2025). This initiative is a major step toward fostering youth inclusion, participation in governance, and policy influence across Nigeria.
During the virtual inauguration, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, emphasized that the Youth Confab is a “national movement that gives young people a seat at the table.” He acknowledged that while Nigerian youth are full of ideas, their voices have often been unheard. The Confab aims to change this by creating a structured and inclusive platform for dialogue.
Key Responsibilities of the STCs
The newly inaugurated committees have been tasked with critical responsibilities to ensure the conference is a success. These include:
- Facilitating grassroots consultations: The committees will conduct consultations in all 360 Federal Constituencies to gather feedback and policy proposals directly from local communities.
- Ensuring inclusion: A key focus is to ensure that the voices of women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other marginalized groups are heard and included in the discussions.
- Creating a safe environment: The STCs are responsible for fostering a respectful and non-partisan space for youth engagement.
The Minister outlined five core principles to guide the work of the committees: Inclusion, Participation, Evidence and Policy Relevance, Decentralisation, and Accountability and Impact. The outcomes of the Confab will be used to create a National Youth Agenda and will be tracked for implementation by a dedicated task force.
The Youth Confab 2025 is more than just a conference; it is a collaborative effort to empower young Nigerians and integrate their ideas into the nation’s policy-making process.