BREAKING: Tinubu Announces 30-day National Youth Confab

President Bola Tinubu, in his second Independence Day Anniversary Broadcast, announced the convening of a 30-day National Youth Conference aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by Nigerian youths. This initiative, which comes on the heels of Nigeria’s 64th Independence celebration, seeks to harness the creative energy of the nation’s youth, who constitute over 60% of the population.

The President emphasized the importance of involving the youth in nation-building, stating that their voices and aspirations would be central to the discussions and outcomes of the conference. “We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects,” Tinubu noted.

The conference will cover critical areas including education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice, with the government pledging to thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations that arise. Tinubu added, “The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.”

Despite the President’s assurances, Nigerian youths are expressing growing skepticism regarding the potential politicization of the conference. While the initiative has been welcomed in some quarters as a step toward inclusive governance, there is concern that it may become a platform for political interests, diluting the voices of genuine youth advocates.

A recurring concern is that only youths aligned with political factions may be selected as delegates, leaving out grassroots participants who are most affected by the very issues the conference aims to address. Many young Nigerians have stressed the need for transparency in the selection process, and there is a demand that participants be strictly within the youthful age range to ensure that the deliberations truly represent the demographic intended to benefit.

Ensuring Youthful Representation

The expectation is that all participants in the conference must be within the youthful age range, as defined by existing national policies. This is seen as crucial to ensuring that the challenges and ideas presented are relevant to the lived experiences of young Nigerians. Many have taken to social media to voice their concerns and expectations, calling for a transparent selection process that prioritizes merit and inclusivity.

As the government begins preparations for the conference, the outcome of this initiative remains to be seen. Whether it will indeed be a platform for meaningful dialogue and change or be perceived as another political maneuver depends largely on the implementation of the promised modalities and the level of genuine youth involvement.

The 30-day National Youth Confab has the potential to create pathways for a brighter future, but for it to succeed, the skepticism surrounding it must be addressed through concrete actions that place the youth's interests at the forefront.