FG Sets October for National Youth Confab, Targets 360 Constituencies

The Federal Government has announced plans to convene the National Youth Confab 2026 in October, with young Nigerians from all 360 federal constituencies expected to participate in the two-week national engagement.

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, to herald the upcoming conference.

The Confab, themed “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,” is expected to bring together one youth delegate from each federal constituency, six representatives of Nigerians in the diaspora, and other relevant stakeholders.

Olawande said the initiative was designed to provide Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 with an opportunity to articulate their concerns, put forward policy proposals and develop practical solutions to some of the challenges facing the country.

He stressed that young Nigerians should no longer be viewed merely as future leaders, but as active partners in nation-building.

“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.

According to the Minister, the Confab will begin with a nationwide virtual consultation before proceeding to a physical conference in Abuja.

He said discussions would centre on critical national issues, including 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 Federal Government was particularly interested in ensuring that the Confab produces practical outcomes rather than becoming another platform for discussions without implementation.

“This is an opportunity to listen, engage, cooperate and move from

conversation to concrete action,” the Minister stated.
To strengthen implementation and accountability, he disclosed that the government would establish a Multi-Stakeholder Youth Confab Taskforce, Youth Confab Impact Index and a youth-led monitoring and accountability framework.

These mechanisms, he explained, would help track the implementation of resolutions and ensure that the outcomes of the Confab are sustained beyond the conference.

The Minister called on young Nigerians across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to actively 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 Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Chairman of the National Youth Confab Committee, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, described the initiative as an opportunity to deepen youth participation in national development.

Keshinro urged young Nigerians and other stakeholders to embrace the process and make meaningful contributions towards achieving 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 members of the National Youth 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 critical 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 urged young Nigerians to use the platform to present innovative ideas and practical solutions that could contribute to the sustainable development of Nigeria.