The Federal Government has flagged off the State Technical Committees (STCs) for the upcoming National Youth Conference 2025 (Youth Confab 2025), a nationwide initiative designed to increase youth involvement in governance, policy development, and national dialogue.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development made the announcement during a virtual inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, led by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Olawande said the Youth Confab is not just another gathering but ‘the activation of a key operational mechanism that reaffirms our collective belief in youth leadership, inclusive governance, and the power of dialogue.’
He noted that while young Nigerians remain full of ideas and passion for national development, their voices have long gone unheard.
“The Youth Confab 2025 will change all that,” he affirmed. “It is not just another event; it is a national movement that gives young people a seat at the table.”
Olawande charged members of the newly inaugurated STCs with critical responsibilities, including: Facilitating grassroots consultations across all 360 Federal Constituencies; Supporting the compilation of policy proposals and community-driven solutions; Ensuring the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and marginalised voices; and creating a safe, respectful, and non-partisan environment for youth engagement.
He emphasised five core principles that must guide the Committees’ work; Inclusion – Every youth, regardless of background, must be represented; Participation – Dialogue must be genuine and youth-led; Evidence and Policy Relevance – Outputs must reflect grassroots realities and inform actual policy shifts; Decentralisation – Engagement must be rooted in local communities and states; Accountability and Impact – The outcomes will feed into a National Youth Agenda, influence cabinet-level decisions, and be tracked through a Youth Confab Implementation Taskforce and an Impact Index.
The Minister also outlined key milestones following the inauguration, including; Nationwide and diaspora-led virtual consultations, Constituency dialogues across all geopolitical zones; Zonal consolidation meetings to align regional priorities. A National Conference in Abuja to produce the Youth Confab Declaration; Submission of a final Policy Blueprint to His Excellency, the President; and the launch of a Youth Confab Impact Index to monitor delivery and outcomes.
“As members of this committee, this is your moment, not just to facilitate logistics, but to ignite real change.You are shaping the dreams of Nigerian youth and helping build a bridge between our country’s leadership and its next generation.”
