In his nationwide broadcast on Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced plans for a National Youth Conference aimed at addressing the various challenges and opportunities facing the country’s young population, which makes up over 60% of the total population.
The 30-day conference, which will bring together young Nigerians from across the nation, will focus on key issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. President Tinubu emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that young people play an active role in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
“This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people…By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow,” the president stated.
The president further explained that the selection of delegates and the overall structure of the conference would be designed in close collaboration with youth representatives to ensure inclusivity. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations from the forum, Tinubu added, noting that “it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.”
Beyond the conference, President Tinubu highlighted several ongoing youth-focused programs aimed at empowering young Nigerians in the changing global economy. Among these initiatives is the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, designed to develop Nigeria’s technical talent pool.
Additionally, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a scheme that provides affordable loans to students for tertiary education, has already been implemented. President Tinubu also revealed that later this month, the government will launch the Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), which aims to create 2.5 million jobs annually through interventions in job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
These programs, Tinubu stressed, are part of the government’s broader commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.