The federal government has officially opened the registration portal for the 2025 National Youth Conference, known as Youth Confab 2025.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made the announcement in Abuja on Monday. He highlighted that, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, the conference will be youth-led, inclusive, and non-partisan. Its aim is to unite young Nigerians from all corners of the country, including the diaspora, to collaboratively shape the nation’s future.
With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under 35, Olawande stressed that the nation’s prosperity hinges on the creativity, energy, and ambitions of its youth. He urged young people to transition from protest to policy, from problems to solutions, and from challenges to progress.
The minister outlined a multi-tiered participatory structure for the Confab, featuring virtual engagements for the diaspora, consultations across all 360 federal constituencies, zonal meetings throughout the six geopolitical zones, and a national conference in Abuja.
He introduced six thematic pillars for discussion: Governance and Political Participation; Economic Transformation and Job Creation; Education and Skills; Technology and Innovation; Climate Change and Energy Transition; and Social Inclusion and Security.
Olawande emphasised that the implementation of this initiative will be founded on transparency, inclusivity, and innovation. He encouraged all young Nigerians, including students, entrepreneurs, creatives, artisans, professionals, and those in the diaspora, to visit the new portal to register and engage actively.
Earlier, Olubunmi Olusanya, the chairman of the National Planning Committee for the Youth Confab 2025, reiterated the federal government’s dedication to leveraging young people’s potential through structured dialogue. He noted that the portal’s launch signals the commencement of vital activities, including virtual consultations, policy paper submissions, constituency dialogues, and zonal consolidations, culminating in a National Conference in Abuja.
Olusanya explained that the Youth Confab format is designed to reflect Nigeria’s diverse youth population, prioritising inclusion, respect, and equity. He mentioned that 36,000 youths are expected to participate at the federal constituency level alone, while 370 delegates will attend the zonal meetings. Nigerian youth abroad will also share their insights through online platforms, making this a truly international initiative.
The selection of delegates will be merit-based and transparent, ensuring broad representation and legitimacy. To foster intergenerational dialogue, 90% of participants will be aged 18 to 35, with the remaining 10% comprising older Nigerians. A 50:50 gender balance will be maintained, with special attention given to persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.
