The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, has officially launched a digital portal for the upcoming National Youth Conference (National Youth Confab)—a bold new initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians to take part in policymaking and national development.
At a press briefing on Monday, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the conference as “more than just an event,” calling it a “generational turning point, a national movement, and a call to action.”
Theme: “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future”
The conference will be inclusive, youth-led, and non-partisan, ensuring that young voices across Nigeria—and even abroad—are heard and represented. The newly launched digital portal allows Nigerian youth to:
- Register for the conference
- Submit policy ideas and memos
- Access real-time updates
- Participate virtually (including from the diaspora)
Minister Olawande emphasized, “This is a platform for us to listen, learn, and lead together.”
How It All Began
President Bola Tinubu first announced the idea of a 30-day National Youth Confab during his Independence Day address on October 1, 2024, aiming for a February 2025 timeline. Momentum picked up on March 10, 2025, when he inaugurated a 44-member planning committee at the State House in Abuja.
Conference Structure: Four Key Phases
The confab will be rolled out in multiple phases:
- Constituency-Level Consultations – Direct engagement with youth in all 360 federal constituencies
- Zonal Sessions – Gathering regional input across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones
- Diaspora Participation – Hosting virtual sessions for young Nigerians living abroad
- National Conference in Abuja – Bringing together insights and turning them into actionable policy proposals
Scope and Representation
The chairman of the National Planning Committee, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, revealed that the confab will host 36,000 delegates. Selection will be merit-based and transparent, with a focus on inclusion and diversity, including:
- 50:50 gender parity
- Inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs)
- Age range of 18–35 for youth delegates, with 10% of slots reserved for older participants to promote inter-generational dialogue
Six Key Focus Areas
The conference agenda will focus on Nigeria’s most urgent national priorities:
- Governance & Political Participation
- Economic Transformation & Job Creation
- Education & Skills Development
- Technology & Innovation
- Climate Change & Energy Transition
- Social Inclusion & Security
These six pillars will guide discussions and shape the final policy recommendations.
Beyond Talk: From Ideas to Implementation
To ensure that the outcomes are meaningful and not just political talk, the government will:
- Anchor resolutions in legislative and executive actions
- Launch a Youth-Led Monitoring & Accountability Framework
- Develop a Youth Confab Impact Index to track real progress
As the Minister put it: “This is how we move from protest to policy, from problems to solutions, and from challenges to real progress.”
How to Participate
The digital portal is now live, and registration is open until June 30, 2025. All young Nigerians, including those abroad, are encouraged to sign up, submit their ideas, and get involved in shaping the future of the country.
In Summary
The launch of the National Youth Confab digital portal marks the beginning of a landmark initiative that seeks to institutionalize youth participation in Nigeria’s development process. With this effort, the government hopes to create lasting systems for youth voices to influence real policies and solutions at the national level.
