FG to hold youth Confab in October

In October 2026, the Federal Government plans to host the National Youth Confab, as announced by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande. This initiative, which comes nearly two years after President Bola Tinubu first proposed it in his October 2024 Independence Day broadcast, aims to engage young Nigerians in crafting solutions and taking ownership of the country's future.

The theme, 'Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,' reflects the Confab's central purpose. Olawande emphasized that the conference will be a collaborative effort, running for two weeks, with a virtual consultation phase followed by a physical conference in Abuja. The event will bring together young delegates from each of the 360 federal constituencies and six diaspora delegates, focusing on six key pillars: governance, the economy, education, technology, climate, and security.

Olawande addressed concerns about political influence, stating that the selection process was designed to exclude monetary or political interference. He also highlighted parallel developments like the revamped NYSC program and job creation initiatives as evidence of the administration's commitment.