The Federal Government will convene the National Youth Confab 2026 in October, bringing together young Nigerians from all 360 federal constituencies to discuss national challenges and propose solutions.
The two-week engagement will feature one youth delegate from each federal constituency, six representatives of Nigerians in the diaspora and other relevant stakeholders.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference held at the Press Gallery of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to announce the forthcoming conference.
The Confab, themed “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,” will begin with a nationwide virtual consultation before culminating in a physical conference in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, and signed by Omolara Esan, Director, Information and Public Relations, the ministry said the initiative was designed to give Nigerians aged 18 to 35 an opportunity to express their concerns, develop policy proposals and contribute practical responses to the country’s 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.
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Olawande said discussions would cover 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.
He said the government intended the initiative to produce measurable outcomes rather than end as another talk shop.
“This is an opportunity to listen, engage, cooperate and move from conversation to concrete action.”
To sustain the outcome of the engagement, the minister said the government would establish a Multi-Stakeholder Youth Confab Taskforce, Youth Confab Impact Index and a youth-led monitoring and accountability framework.
He 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 and Chairman of the National Youth Confab Committee, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, described the event as an opportunity to deepen youth participation in national development.
She urged young Nigerians and stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the process.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media, Otega Ogra, also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative and the Confab committee for translating the administration’s vision into a national engagement.
“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.