President Bola Tinubu on Monday called on young Nigerians to reject ethnic, religious and partisan divisions, as his administration continues to convert the recommendations of the 2026 National Youth Conference into an implementation plan with timelines and measurable targets.
The President who was represented at the closing ceremony of the one-week 2026 National Youth Conference by the
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the government would not allow the conference’s proposals to become “another report gathering dust on government shelves.”
Tinubu said his government will consider the outcome of the conference a national “guide for action.”
“Your voices have been heard, your concerns matter. Your aspirations matter,” the president said in remarks read on his behalf. “We may come from different backgrounds, but we share one country, one future, and one destiny.”
President Tinubu described young Nigerians as partners in shaping the country’s present, not merely its future leaders.
He praised the 360 delegates for challenging existing approaches and proposing solutions during the six-day physical phase of the conference, which followed two weeks of virtual consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The conference has the theme: “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future,” which seek to address employment, education, skills, technology, security, climate change and national unity.
NewsQuest reports that the objective is to produce practical recommendations capable of guiding policy and improving young people’s lives.
The President acknowledged the economic pressures facing many Nigerians, including unemployment, rising living costs and restricted access to finance.
“These are legitimate expectations. They are expectations that government has a responsibility to address,” he said.
President Tinubu defended his administration’s economic reforms as necessary to build a stronger and more productive economy, while conceding that they had imposed sacrifices.
He said young Nigerians deserved more than explanations of present hardship; they needed to see future opportunities become reality.
The President directed Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande to work with ministries, departments and agencies, state governments, private-sector partners and development organizations to translate the conference’s recommendations into an implementation framework.
The plan is expected to set priorities, assign responsibility, establish realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators of progress.
“You must not be invited to the table only when decisions are being discussed,” Tinubu said.
“You must also have a place at the table when those decisions are being implemented.”
The pledge responds to concerns that youth consultations often produce policy documents without follow-through.
Minister Olawande had told delegates at the opening that the conference outcome should guide government decisions and deliver tangible improvements in young people’s lives.
President Tinubu also emphasized inclusion for young women, people with disabilities and rural youth, saying no young Nigerian should be left behind.
Abbas, speaking as the president’s representative, said Tinubu had sponsored an executive bill to create reserved legislative seats for women and persons with disabilities.
Under the proposal, the House of Representatives would gain 37 additional seats for women – one for each state and the Federal Capital Territory – and two seats for people with disabilities, with similar arrangements proposed for state assemblies.
He pointed to investments in education, technical training, youth credit and entrepreneurship, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the 3 Million Technical Talent program and the Nigerian Youth Academy.
“We will ensure that a young Nigerian with talent and determination can succeed regardless of background or location,” he said.
President Tinubu described the conference as the beginning of a partnership built on “trust, responsibility, opportunity, and measurable results,” before formally declaring the event closed.
