The FG announces the National Youth Confab

The Federal Government has announced plans to convene the National Youth Confab 2026 in October as part of efforts to provide young Nigerians with a platform to contribute to national development and policy discussions.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference announcing the National Youth Confab 2026 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Olawande said the two-week event will combine a nationwide virtual consultation with a physical conference in Abuja.

According to him, the initiative is organized by the Federal Ministry for Youth Development in collaboration with youth networks and other stakeholders.

The Confab is themed “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future” and is designed to enable young Nigerians to share their experiences, express their concerns, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions to the challenges facing the country.

The government seeks wider participation of young people

The minister said the government recognizes the importance of youth participation in national affairs, stressing that young Nigerians make up a significant percentage of the country’s population.

He stressed that Confab was not to be another conference where speeches would be given and reports produced without any follow-up action.

“It’s an opportunity to listen, engage, cooperate and move from conversation to concrete action,” he said.

Olawande explained that during the first week, Nigerians aged between 18 and 35, both at home and in the diaspora, will participate in a nationwide virtual consultation.

A dedicated online portal will also be opened to receive memorandums, ideas and policy proposals from young Nigerians.

He said that inputs from the virtual consultation would help shape the agenda, deliberations and deliverables of the physical conference.

The minister listed young entrepreneurs, students, farmers, technology innovators, young professionals and Nigerians living abroad among those the government wants to participate in.

He added that the government also wants to listen to young people who feel excluded or unheard.

360 constituencies to represent

The second week will feature the Physical National Youth Confab in Abuja, with one youth delegate from each of Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies and six delegates representing Nigerians in the diaspora.

Key stakeholders and observers will also participate in the conference.

According to Olawande, the program will include think tanks, policy workshops, innovation showcases, networking sessions and focused discussions.

He said the selection of delegates will be guided by transparency, merit, grassroots representation, gender balance and regional inclusion, as well as the participation of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups.

Discussions at Confab will focus on six pillars: governance, leadership and political participation; economic transformation, entrepreneurship and job creation; education and skills for the future; technology, innovation and digital transformation; climate change and energy transition; and social harmony and security.

Olawande said the goal is to allow participants to examine the challenges and opportunities in the six areas and develop clear, implementable recommendations.

The FG foresees post-Confab monitoring

He said Confab will be guided by principles such as inclusion, youth ownership, transparency, accountability, impartiality, innovation, value for money and intergenerational solidarity.

The minister also said that mechanisms will be established to ensure that the Confab’s work continues after the physical conference.

These, he said, would include a Multi-Stakeholder Youth Confab Task Force, a Youth Confab Impact Index, sustained youth policy dialogues and a youth-led monitoring and accountability framework.

He said the mechanisms would help track commitments, measure progress and ensure that Confab outcomes remain relevant after the event.

Olawande urged Nigerian youths across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the diaspora to register, submit ideas, share experiences, propose workable solutions and nominate credible youths to participate in the process.

He said the Federal Ministry of Youth Development stands ready to listen and engage with Nigerian youths as preparations for the October Confab continue.