The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced that the Federal Government is considering inviting Nigerian youths living abroad to participate in a planned 30-day Youth Confab. This event, aimed at addressing challenges faced by the country’s youth, is expected to be held before the end of the year.
Olawande shared details during an interview in his office on Monday, emphasizing that the specifics and modalities for the confab will be disclosed in the coming weeks. This initiative follows President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day address on October 1, 2024, where he revealed the government’s plan to convene a youth conference, acknowledging that over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population consists of young people.
President Tinubu stated that the confab aims to unite the nation’s youth to develop solutions addressing critical issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. “The modalities of this confab and the selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives,” the President explained. “Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.”
Olawande elaborated on the planning process, mentioning ongoing discussions with stakeholders. He highlighted the importance of including diaspora youths, who will be invited to share their insights on innovative strategies for the country. “We will select some of them who have experience and can provide insights into the best approaches we can take.
We would love to invite some of them, but not as many as those from within the country. It will involve youths from towns, villages, local areas, urban centers—essentially everywhere we have young people in Nigeria.”
Even on platforms like X Space, we will engage participants and invite them to contribute. But we don’t want discussions to be solely about the problems. Everyone knows there are issues, so let’s come together and focus on solutions,” he said.
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He further noted, “The guideline for the confab is going to come out very soon. We are having our strategic meetings following the Presidential announcement, and once it is finalized, it will be made public.” Olawande stressed that the initiative is a collaborative effort beyond just the Ministry of Youth, aiming to include a diverse range of young voices from across Nigeria.
While he acknowledged the challenges facing youth, he emphasized the need for a solutions-oriented approach. “We don’t want discussions to be solely about the problems. Everyone knows there are issues, so let’s come together and focus on solutions,” he urged.
As for the timeline, Olawande confirmed that the date for the confab will be communicated soon, assuring that it will be “quick and fast” to facilitate timely implementation. “We are committed to this. Hopefully, before the end of this year. In the next couple of weeks—two to three weeks—we will have the guidelines and we will roll them out,” he concluded.
