Abuja: The City Boy Movement (CBM) has urged its members to intensify grassroots mobilisation efforts, with a target of securing 10 million youth votes for President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general election. This call to action was made during the opening dinner of the 2026 CBM National Retreat held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the retreat, themed ‘Youth. Unity. Action.’, brought together national, zonal, and state leaders, along with National Working Committee members and coordinators from across the federation. CBM Patron, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, emphasized that the retreat’s purpose was to prepare members for greater responsibilities, rather than to celebrate past achievements. He encouraged participants to become effective communicators, educators, and mobilisers, focusing on strengthening engagement with citizens at the grassroots level.
Mr. Tinubu highlighted the issue of misinformation and incomplete narratives affecting public understanding of government policies, stressing the importance of effective public engagement. He urged members to return to their communities prepared to clearly explain government policies and to listen sincerely to the concerns of the people.
Tinubu acknowledged the economic and security challenges President Tinubu inherited and the reforms introduced to stabilize the economy. Despite the temporary hardships caused, he noted encouraging signs of recovery emerging across key sectors. He called on CBM members to explain government policies with facts, empathy, and responsibility, aiming to bridge the gap between government and citizens.
CBM Director-General, Mr. Francis Shoga, outlined the organization’s goal of securing 10 million youth votes through sustained grassroots mobilisation efforts before 2027. He emphasized the importance of real engagement and hard work over slogans or social media campaigns to achieve this target. Shoga encouraged members to build a disciplined, results-driven organisation capable of educating Nigerians about government policies and mobilising community-level support nationwide.
Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, highlighted the shared responsibility of nation-building, requiring patriotism, unity, and responsible citizenship. She praised the City Boy Movement for promoting civic participation and national cohesion among young Nigerians.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, urged young Nigerians to actively participate in governance and national development, emphasizing the importance of youth voices in the country. CBM Co-Patron, Mr. Kashim Shettima Jr., described the organization as ‘the biggest youth political movement in Africa’ and called for unity among members. He urged participants to strengthen grassroots structures and expand the movement’s reach nationwide in preparation for future political engagements.
The three-day retreat focuses on reviewing organizational progress, strengthening internal coordination, and preparing members for the next phase of nationwide mobilisation.