FG Opens National Youth Confab, Challenges Young Nigerians to Turn Ideas into Action
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government has opened the National Youth Confab 2026 in Abuja, urging young Nigerians to move beyond dialogue and translate their ideas into practical solutions to the challenges confronting the country.
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, gave the charge on Thursday while declaring the confab open at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Auditorium, Abuja.
Olawande described the gathering as more than a conference, saying it provides an important platform for young Nigerians to exchange ideas, examine opportunities and challenges, and contribute to policies and programmes affecting their lives.
He said young Nigerians remained among the country’s greatest assets, citing their contributions to entrepreneurship, technology, the creative economy, civic engagement, innovation and community development.
The Minister, however, acknowledged challenges facing young people, including unemployment, inadequate skills development, limited access to finance and education, digital exclusion, entrepreneurship barriers, peace and security concerns, and limited access to opportunities.
He therefore challenged delegates to go beyond identifying problems by developing realistic recommendations, partnerships and measurable actions that could lead to stronger programmes, improved access to opportunities and greater accountability.
Olawande also called on the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and youth-led organisations to deepen collaboration with government in expanding opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.
He assured participants that the Federal Ministry of Youth Development would continue to create platforms for meaningful youth participation in the formulation of policies and programmes.
The Minister urged delegates to take ownership of the confab by engaging, questioning, proposing and collaborating, expressing confidence that its deliberations would produce outcomes capable of being translated into meaningful action.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, stressed the importance of meaningful youth participation in national development.
She said the confab provides an opportunity for young Nigerians to shape conversations and policies around leadership, governance, employment, entrepreneurship, education, digital skills, peacebuilding and national unity.
Keshinro urged participants to ensure that their discussions culminate in 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 event, describing it as a timely platform for harnessing the ideas, energy and potential of Nigeria’s young population.
He noted that given the significant proportion of young people in Nigeria’s population, their inclusion in national conversations and decision-making processes was critical to the country’s development.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, highlighted the role of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in capturing, analysing and categorising the ideas and concerns raised by young Nigerians at the confab.
According to him, the approach would support meaningful youth participation and generate evidence capable of informing policies that reflect 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 and stressed the need to harness their skills and potential for national development.
Prof. Magdalene Igbolo, Director, Centre for Gender Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of the revived Commonwealth Youth Programme in strengthening the capacity of youth development professionals.
She said the postgraduate programme was designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills required to effectively engage young people and contribute to the professionalisation of the youth development sector.
The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Aliyu Idris Zakari, called for sustained youth participation in governance and decision-making.
He said young Nigerians should not be regarded merely as leaders of tomorrow, but as active partners and contributors to national development today.
Similarly, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, called for greater attention to education, employment, skills development, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and youth participation in governance.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of the confab translated into policies and programmes capable of improving the lives of young Nigerians.
Cover Photo Caption: Group photograph of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and other stakeholders at the opening ceremony of the National Youth Confab 2026 in Abuja.
