The Federal Government has declared the National Youth Confab 2026 open, charging young Nigerians to move beyond conversations and develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting them while contributing meaningfully to national development.
Declaring the Confab open at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Auditorium, Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the gathering as more than a conference, but an important platform for young Nigerians to exchange ideas, examine opportunities and challenges, and contribute to shaping policies and programmes that affect their lives.
Comrade Olawande said young Nigerians remain one of the country’s greatest assets, noting their contributions to entrepreneurship, technology, the creative economy, civic engagement, innovation, and community development. While acknowledging the challenges confronting young people in areas such as employment, skills development, access to finance, education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, peace and security, and access to opportunities, he stressed the need for coordinated action by government and other stakeholders to address these challenges.
The Minister called on delegates to go beyond identifying problems and develop realistic recommendations, partnerships, and measurable actions capable of translating the discussions into stronger programmes, improved access to opportunities, and greater accountability.
He also urged the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and youth-led organisations to strengthen collaboration with government in expanding opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.
Comrade Ayodele assured participants that the Federal Ministry of Youth Development would continue to promote platforms that enable young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in shaping policies and programmes that affect their lives. He encouraged delegates to take full ownership of the Confab by engaging, questioning, proposing, and collaborating, expressing confidence that the deliberations would produce outcomes capable of being translated into meaningful action.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, emphasised the importance of meaningful youth participation in national development, noting that the Confab provides an opportunity for young Nigerians to shape conversations and policies on leadership, governance, jobs, entrepreneurship, education, digital skills, peacebuilding and national unity. She urged participants to move beyond discussions and translate their ideas into practical and measurable actions.
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Olaseye Nafiu, commended the Federal Government for convening the Confab, describing it as a timely platform for harnessing the ideas, energy, and potential of Nigeria’s young population. He stated that with young people constituting a significant proportion of the country’s population, their inclusion in national conversations and decision-making processes remains critical to Nigeria’s development.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, highlighted the application of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in capturing, analysing and categorising the ideas and concerns of young Nigerians at the Confab. He explained that the initiative would support meaningful youth participation and provide evidence that could inform policies reflecting the aspirations and expectations of young Nigerians.
Dr. Hardwick Tchale, Lead Agricultural Economist for West and Central Africa at the World Bank, described young people as a national asset, stressing the importance of engaging them in national development and harnessing their skills and potential to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress. He wished the Ministry and other stakeholders successful deliberations at the Confab.
Prof. Magdalene Igbolo, Director, Centre for Gender Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, highlighted the importance of the revived Commonwealth Youth Programme in building the capacity of youth development professionals. She added that the postgraduate programme is designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills required to effectively engage young people and strengthen the professionalisation of the youth development sector.
The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Aliyu Idris Zakari, called for meaningful and sustained youth participation in governance and decision-making, stressing that young Nigerians should be recognised not merely as leaders of tomorrow, but as active partners and contributors to national development today.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, stressed the need for young Nigerians to be recognised as active partners in national development, calling for greater attention to education, employment, skills development, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and meaningful participation in governance. He urged that the outcomes of the Confab should translate into policies and programmes that improve the lives of young people.
Omolara Esan
Director, Information and Public Relations
