President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerian youths that recommendations from the 2026 National Youth Conference will receive serious attention, directing the Ministry of Youth Development to develop an implementation framework with clear priorities, timelines and measurable targets.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerian youths that recommendations from the 2026 National Youth Conference will translate into concrete government actions, directing the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to develop a framework for their implementation.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Monday, November 9, at the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Youth Conference, also known as the Youth Confab, in Abuja.
The President’s address was delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Tinubu commended the young Nigerians who participated in the conference, praising their contributions, ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to discussing the country’s future.
He said the quality of discussions and recommendations had reinforced his confidence in the capacity of Nigerian youths to contribute meaningfully to national development.
According to him, young people are not merely leaders of tomorrow but important partners in shaping the country’s present and future.
The President explained that the conference was organised to provide a national platform for young Nigerians to express their views, engage constructively and contribute directly to decisions affecting their future.
He assured participants that their concerns, aspirations and recommendations would receive the attention they deserved.
Tinubu acknowledged the challenges confronting Nigerian youths, including unemployment, rising living costs, limited access to education, difficulties in starting businesses and insecurity in their communities.
He said young Nigerians deserved a country where hard work was rewarded, talents were recognised and opportunities were accessible regardless of personal connections or geographical background.
The President said his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to build an economy that creates opportunities, encourages enterprise and provides every Nigerian with a fair chance to succeed.
He acknowledged that ongoing economic reforms had come with sacrifices but maintained that the government was investing in education, skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship to expand opportunities for young people.
Tinubu highlighted initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, YouthCred and the Nigerian Youth Academy as part of efforts to remove barriers and create new opportunities.
He added that the government would continue working to ensure that skills training translated into employment, innovation attracted investment and young entrepreneurs gained access to financing.
The President emphasised that the real test of the conference would be the implementation of its recommendations rather than the production of another report without practical outcomes.
He consequently directed the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, the private sector and development partners to develop a practical implementation framework.
According to him, the framework must establish clear priorities, assign responsibilities, set realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators for assessing progress.
He also stressed the need for young people to remain actively involved in implementing and monitoring the recommendations.
Tinubu said youth participation should not end with discussions and decision-making but should extend to the execution of policies and programmes designed to address their concerns.
He further called for inclusive policies that would accommodate young women, persons with disabilities, youths in rural communities and others whose circumstances had limited their access to opportunities.
The President maintained that no young Nigerian should be left behind in the country’s development process.
Tinubu urged Nigerian youths not to underestimate their capacity to contribute to national development, stressing that the country needed their creativity, courage, enterprise and leadership.
However, he reminded them that leadership came with responsibility, encouraging them to use their voices and platforms to promote meaningful ideas, defend democratic values and participate actively in the nation’s democratic process.
He also cautioned against allowing differences in ethnicity, religion and political opinions to undermine national unity.
According to him, Nigerians share a common destiny and must work together to build a country where opportunities are not determined by the circumstances of one’s birth.
The President expressed his commitment to building a Nigeria where young people could create opportunities, become technology innovators, establish successful businesses and transform their knowledge into meaningful employment.
He urged conference participants to return to their communities with the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and national service demonstrated during the gathering.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to engaging with young Nigerians, describing the conference as the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and the youth.
He said the partnership would be built on trust, responsibility, opportunity and measurable results before formally declaring the 2026 National Youth Conference closed.
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