The Federal Government has announced February 2025 as the new date for the much-anticipated National Youth Conference, initially proposed by President Bola Tinubu during his Independence Day broadcast.
The 30-day conference aims to tackle pressing issues affecting Nigerian youths, including unemployment, education, and political participation.
President Tinubu described the conference as an avenue to empower youths and amplify their voices in policy-making, stating, “The conference aims to provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building.”
However, nearly three months after the announcement, frustration has grown among youth groups over the delay.
Organisations such as the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yoruba Youths Council, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the Ijaw National Congress expressed disappointment, accusing the Tinubu-led administration of neglecting its commitment to youth development.
The National President of AYCF, Zaid Ayuba, said, “The delay in organising the confab shows a lack of interest in youth development. This conference was meant to amplify the voices of young Nigerians, but the government’s inaction has left us disheartened.”
Similarly, Eric Oluwole, President of the Yoruba Youths Council, criticised the government’s silence on the matter, saying, “Nigerian youths are not happy with Tinubu. We believed the confab would be held promptly, but it seems the government has forgotten.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide spokesperson, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, urged the government to prioritise the event, emphasising its importance in addressing youth-related challenges.
He remarked, “The youth confab is to the President’s advantage, as it provides an opportunity to understand and address the yearnings of the youth.”
In response to the growing criticism, Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande confirmed that the conference would commence in February 2025, with grassroots engagements spanning three weeks before delegates convene in Abuja for the final week.
“We are creating a more action-oriented approach. This time, we will engage with youths at the grassroots to identify challenges and develop solutions. By the first week of February, the confab will begin, and by mid-January, selected delegates will be inaugurated by the President,” Olawande said.
The minister emphasised the need for results, stating, “We have reviewed past conferences to avoid repeating mistakes. Our goal is to implement actionable solutions through executive orders or bills to be sent to the National Assembly.”
Youth leaders, including the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Lucky Emonefe, have called for increased urgency. Emonefe stated, “This conference is vital for Nigerian youths to express their challenges and demands. We also insist that at least 50% of government leadership positions be held by youths.”
While preparations are underway, some youth activists, like Peluola Adewale of the Democratic Socialist Movement, remain skeptical. Adewale described the conference as a “diversionary tactic” aimed at placating youths during protests such as #EndBadGovernance and #FearlessOctober in 2024.
The February 2025 conference is expected to serve as a platform for addressing key challenges facing Nigerian youths and promoting their inclusion in governance and decision-making processes.
