The Federal Government has urged young Nigerians to move beyond discussions and develop practical solutions to the challenges affecting them and the country.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, gave the charge on Friday while declaring the National Youth Confab 2026 open at the National Counter Terrorism Centre Auditorium in Abuja.
Olawande described the confab as more than a conference, saying it was designed to enable young Nigerians to exchange ideas, examine challenges and opportunities, and contribute to policies and programmes affecting their lives.
He identified employment, skills development, access to finance, education, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, peace and security among the major challenges confronting young Nigerians.
The minister urged delegates to develop realistic recommendations, partnerships and measurable actions that could improve government programmes, expand access to opportunities and strengthen accountability.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners, civil society and youth-led organisations to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, said the confab would give young people an opportunity to contribute to policies on leadership, governance, jobs, entrepreneurship, education, digital skills, peacebuilding and national unity.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said technology and artificial intelligence would be used to capture and analyse ideas raised during the confab to provide evidence for policymaking.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Aliyu Idris Zakari, called for sustained youth participation in governance, saying young Nigerians should be regarded as active contributors to national development.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, also urged the government to ensure that the confab’s recommendations translate into policies and programmes that improve the lives of young Nigerians.