The President Bola Tinubu-led government has announced that the Nigerian national youth conference will take place in February 2025. This development follows the President’s Independence Day proposal to address pressing youth-centred issues, including unemployment, education, and political participation.
President Tinubu had emphasized that the conference aims to “provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building”. However, the delay in organizing the conference has frustrated several youth groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yoruba Youths Council, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the Ijaw National Congress.
AYCF President Zaid Ayuba expressed disappointment, stating that the President’s announcement was an opportunity that failed to materialize. Similarly, Yoruba Youths Council President Eric Oluwole lamented that Nigerian youths are unhappy with the delay.
In response to the criticisms, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande clarified that the conference will take place in the first week of February 2025. He assured that the month-long event will focus on action-oriented solutions, with three weeks spent engaging with grassroots communities.
The conference will include:
– *Two weeks of grassroots engagement*: Focusing on community-level issues and solutions
– *One week at state and local levels*: Addressing regional concerns and developing tailored solutions
– *Final week in Abuja*: Concluding the conference with national-level discussions and recommendations
Committees are being formed to ensure a result-oriented approach, and a task force will be established to implement conference recommendations. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also called for swift action, demanding youth representation in governance.
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