By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Government has declared the National Youth Confab 2026 open, urging young Nigerians to move beyond discussions and develop practical solutions to challenges affecting their development and the country at large.
Declaring the Confab open at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Auditorium in Abuja, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the gathering as more than a conference, but a platform for young Nigerians to exchange ideas, examine opportunities and challenges, and contribute to policies and programmes affecting their lives.
Olawande said young Nigerians remained one of the country’s greatest assets, citing their contributions to entrepreneurship, technology, the creative economy, civic engagement, innovation and community development.
He, however, acknowledged challenges confronting young people, including unemployment, skills development, access to finance, education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, peace and security, and access to opportunities.
The minister called on delegates to move beyond identifying problems by developing realistic recommendations, partnerships and measurable actions capable of translating the Confab’s deliberations into stronger programmes, improved access to opportunities and greater accountability.
He also urged the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and youth-led organizations to strengthen collaboration with the government in expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.
Olawande assured participants that the Federal Ministry of Youth Development would continue to provide platforms for meaningful youth participation in shaping policies and programmes affecting their lives.
He encouraged delegates to take ownership of the Confab by engaging, questioning, proposing and collaborating, expressing confidence that the deliberations would produce outcomes that could be translated into meaningful action.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, stressed the importance of meaningful youth participation in national development, saying the Confab provided an opportunity for young Nigerians to shape conversations and policies on leadership, governance, jobs, entrepreneurship, education, digital skills, peacebuilding and national unity.
She similarly urged participants to 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.
Nafiu said with young people constituting a significant proportion of the country’s population, their inclusion in national conversations and decision-making processes remained critical to Nigeria’s development.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, highlighted the use of technology and Artificial Intelligence in capturing, analyzing and categorizing ideas and concerns raised by young Nigerians at the Confab.
He said the initiative would support meaningful youth participation and provide evidence capable of informing policies that reflect the aspirations and expectations of young Nigerians.
The World Bank Lead Agricultural Economist for West and Central Africa, Dr Hardwick Tchale, described young people as a national asset and stressed the importance of harnessing their skills and potential for national development.
Similarly, the Director, Centre for Gender Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, Prof. Magdalene Igbolo, highlighted the importance of the revived Commonwealth Youth Programme in building 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 strengthen the professionalization 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.
Zakari said young Nigerians should be recognized 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, also called for greater attention to education, employment, skills development, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and meaningful 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.
