Federal Government announces date for National Youth Conference
The Federal Government has scheduled a month-long National Youth Conference for February 25, 2025, as part of efforts to address pressing issues affecting Nigerian youths, such as unemployment, education, and political inclusion.
President Bola Tinubu, during his Independence Day broadcast, announced the initiative, highlighting its aim to foster solutions and youth empowerment.
Despite initial silence on the proposal, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, confirmed plans for the event.
Olawande disclosed that the conference would commence with three weeks of grassroots engagements across the country, culminating in a one-week convergence of delegates in Abuja.
“We will do the confab by the first week of February. It is not going to be the usual confab. That is why about three weeks of this confab will be spent with the grassroots,” he told The Punch.
The Minister emphasized the action-oriented approach of the conference, moving beyond mere discussions to tangible outcomes.
“We have changed the idea. The President has given us the go-ahead to come up with something more action-oriented. After clarifying with the Chief of Staff, we’ll announce the modalities before 2024 ends,” he added.
The President will inaugurate selected delegates by mid-January, with representatives from various ministries and agencies collaborating.
The conference is a response to youth-led movements such as #EndBadGovernance and #FearlessOctober. Tinubu remarked during his Independence Day broadcast, “The conference aims to provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building.”
