The Federal Government has announced plans to hold the 2026 National Youth Confab in October, promising that the event will focus on practical solutions and measurable actions rather than ending with another set of recommendations.
The conference, themed “Next Gen Nigerian: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,” is designed to bring together young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 to discuss challenges affecting their generation and contribute ideas to national policymaking.
The programme will begin with virtual consultations before a physical gathering in Abuja. Young Nigerians from all 360 federal constituencies, members of the diaspora and other stakeholders are expected to participate. An online platform will also allow participants to submit policy proposals and contribute to the discussions...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The government said the selection process will emphasise transparency, merit, grassroots representation, gender balance and inclusion of young people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
Discussions will focus on governance and political participation, entrepreneurship and job creation, education and future skills, technology and digital innovation, climate change and energy transition, as well as security and social cohesion.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the government does not want the conference to become another documentation exercise. According to him, the objective is to move from discussions to concrete actions, opportunities and measurable commitments.
The Presidency has also said lessons from previous youth conferences have been considered in designing the new process. Officials said mechanisms would be introduced to monitor the implementation of recommendations and maintain engagement between young Nigerians and government after the conference.
The official conference schedule states that virtual activities will run from October 5 to 21, while the physical conference is scheduled for October 26 to 30, 2026.
The government hopes the initiative will give young Nigerians a stronger platform to contribute to national development while creating a structured process for their ideas to influence policies and programmes.
The success of the conference will ultimately depend on whether the proposals generated during the consultations and physical meeting translate into concrete policies and measurable outcomes beyond the event itself.
