The Federal Government has scheduled the long-awaited National Youth Conference for October, with 360 delegates expected to represent Nigeria’s federal constituencies.
The two-week conference is expected to bring together young Nigerians from across the country and the diaspora to discuss issues affecting their future and develop proposals for government.
Plans for the conference date back to October 2024, when President Bola Tinubu announced that his administration would organise a 30-day national dialogue for young Nigerians.
The proposed programme was initially expected to begin in February 2025. It was designed to include three weeks of consultations across the country before a one-week physical gathering in Abuja.
However, the February 2025 timeline passed without the conference taking place.
In March 2025, Tinubu subsequently inaugurated a 44-member planning committee to oversee preparations for the youth gathering. An online registration portal was later launched in June.
Announcing the latest development, Olubunmi Olusanya, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development and chairman of the planning committee, said the conference would now be held in October.
According to Olusanya, the new format is intended to give young Nigerians a stronger role in shaping policies and decisions that affect them.
Rather than limiting youth engagement to consultation, he said the conference would create a platform where participants could present solutions and contribute directly to national development.
The first week of the programme will be conducted virtually, allowing Nigerians aged between 18 and 35, including those living abroad, to submit memoranda and policy proposals.
The physical conference will then take place in Abuja during the second week.
Each of Nigeria’s 360 federal constituencies is expected to produce one youth delegate for the physical meeting. Six additional delegates will represent Nigerians in the diaspora.
Stakeholders and observers will also participate in the conference, according to the planning committee.
Discussions will cover several areas, including governance, political participation, entrepreneurship, employment, education, technology and digital transformation.
Climate change, energy transition, social cohesion and national security will also feature prominently on the agenda.
Organisers are expected to include expert panels, policy sessions, networking opportunities and an innovation showcase as part of the programme.
At the end of the conference, recommendations from participants will be presented to President Tinubu and relevant government institutions for consideration.
Olusanya said delegate selection would be based on merit while ensuring broad representation across regions and communities.
Gender balance, grassroots participation and the inclusion of persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups will also be considered during the selection process.
State ministries responsible for youth affairs are expected to work with the planning committee to coordinate nominations and registration within their respective states.
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande has called on young Nigerians to take advantage of the consultation process.
He urged prospective participants to submit practical ideas and proposals that can contribute to solving challenges facing the country’s youth population.
According to Olawande, the conference is expected to produce more than discussions by creating a mechanism through which young Nigerians can influence policy and demand accountability.
Interested Nigerians are expected to register through the National Youth Conference portal provided by the Ministry of Youth Development.