The Nigerian Government is set to convene the National Youth Confab 2026 in October, bringing together youth delegates from Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies, representatives of Nigerians in the diaspora and other stakeholders.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference held at the Press Gallery of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The announcement was contained in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan.
Themed “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future”, the two-week engagement will begin with a nationwide virtual consultation before culminating in a physical conference in Abuja.
Olawande said the Confab would provide Nigerians aged 18 to 35 with a platform to raise issues affecting them, propose policies and develop practical solutions to national challenges.
“Young Nigerians are not merely leaders of tomorrow; they are partners in nation-building today. Their ideas, experiences and participation are essential to the progress of our country,” he said.
He said discussions would focus on governance and leadership, economic transformation and job creation, education and skills development, technology and innovation, climate change and energy transition, as well as social harmony and security.
Olawande said the initiative was designed to produce tangible outcomes rather than end with discussions.
“This is an opportunity to listen, engage, cooperate and move from conversation to concrete action,” he said.
He added that a Multi-Stakeholder Youth Confab Taskforce, Youth Confab Impact Index and youth-led monitoring and accountability framework would be established to ensure that the recommendations are sustained and implemented.
The minister urged young Nigerians across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to participate by submitting their ideas, proposals and experiences.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth Development is ready to listen, and the Federal Government is ready to engage. We are calling on young Nigerians to step forward and join us in shaping the Nigeria of today and the Nigeria of tomorrow,” Olawande said.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and Chairman of the National Youth Confab Committee, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, described the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen youth participation in national development.
She urged young Nigerians and other stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the process and help achieve the objectives of the Confab.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media, Otega Ogra, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative and the members of the Confab committee for taking on the responsibility of translating the President’s vision for young Nigerians into a national engagement.
Ogra said the administration had continued to create opportunities for young Nigerians to occupy key positions and contribute to national development.
“The present government is betting on young Nigerians to move the country forward. We want you to bring your ideas to the Confab. The door is open for Nigerians to tell us how they want the country to be,” he said.
He encouraged young Nigerians to use the Confab to present innovative ideas and practical solutions that could contribute to the country’s sustainable development.
