The Federal Government and Lagos State are teaming up for an inaugural Abuja Dialogue on Youth Leadership, a forum designed to elevate young leaders from rhetoric to national strategy.
The event set for Monday under the theme “Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation,” will hold in Abuja.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President Stankey Nkwocha in a statement said the event precedes the Lagos Leadership Summit.
It is part of the government’s deliberate push to treat youth development as core infrastructure for the country’s growth.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, announced the plans Friday at a news conference at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Central to this initiative is recognizing that youth leadership must move beyond inclusion to structured responsibility,” he said.
“While inclusion provides access, responsibility demands preparation—through training, mentorship, exposure, and accountability—to ensure young Nigerians deliver in high-stakes systems.”
The dialogue, Senator Hadejia added, will map mechanisms for scaling such preparation via partnerships.
The Office of the Vice President views collaboration with committed institutions as essential to equipping youth with practical skills for real-world impact.
Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, Executive Secretary of the Lagos-based Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), hailed the partnership.
Established under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the academy aims to shift youth programs “from palliative to systematic,” she said, drawing stakeholders to build nationwide systems for empowerment.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser to the Governor on media, noted strong backing from Governor Sanwo-Olu and Vice President Kashim Shettima—both aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s youth focus.
“Nigeria must prioritize youth innovation with sustained attention,” he said.
Organizers expect the event to institutionalize youth leadership as a cornerstone of national progress.
