Abuja:President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to transform the outcomes of the 2026 National Youth Conference into actionable government measures, with an emphasis on achieving measurable results and ensuring accountability among officials.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu issued the directive during the conference’s closing ceremony at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where he was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. The ministry released a statement, signed by Nwachukwu Christian, Assistant Director, for the Director of Information and Public Relations, highlighting Tinubu’s directive to Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande. The minister is to collaborate with relevant ministries, state governments, private sector organizations, and development partners to create a framework for implementing the conference’s recommendations nationwide.
The framework is expected to establish clear priorities, assign responsibilities, set realistic timelines, and develop measurable indicators to ensure the effective implementation of the conference recommendations and enhance accountability across participating government institutions. Tinubu stressed the importance of active participation by young Nigerians in both implementing and overseeing the decisions, urging that their involvement should go beyond consultations to include significant roles in government decision-making processes.
Tinubu emphasized that the success of the conference would be measured by the implementation of its recommendations, which should not become forgotten reports. He highlighted the necessity for Nigerian youths to have meaningful roles in implementing decisions that affect their future, ensuring their voices impact government policies and programs. Acknowledging the challenges faced by young Nigerians, Tinubu identified unemployment, rising living costs, limited educational opportunities, inadequate access to finance, and insecurity as major issues requiring continued government attention and practical solutions.
The President noted that his administration is aware of these concerns and is undertaking reforms and investments in education, skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship to expand opportunities for young Nigerians. Initiatives like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Three Million Technical Talent program, YouthCred, and Nigerian Youth Academy are part of the efforts to empower young people. Tinubu also underscored the importance of translating skills acquisition into employment, attracting investments through innovation, and improving access to financing for young entrepreneurs to establish and expand sustainable businesses.
Tinubu commended the ministry’s conference planning committee and participating young Nigerians for their contributions to national development. Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande highlighted the conference’s production of an 18-point action agenda covering six priority areas, following comprehensive consultations and deliberations with young Nigerians. He described the conference as a significant opportunity to enhance youth participation in national decision-making.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, delivered the keynote address, urging young Nigerians to engage actively in shaping the country’s economic future through innovation and constructive engagement. Oyedele warned against negative perceptions that could deter investments and hinder economic progress, emphasizing the need for economic progress to translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
The statement from the conference, convened by the Tinubu administration, brought together young Nigerians from both within the country and the diaspora to discuss national issues and provide recommendations. The conference focused on enhancing youth participation in governance, economic development, and nation-building, with its outcomes intended to guide policies and programs affecting young Nigerians nationwide. With Tinubu’s directive, efforts are now centered on developing an implementation framework to convert the recommendations into concrete government actions, with youth expected to be actively involved in the process.