President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to immediately commence implementation of recommendations from the 2026 National Youth Conference, insisting that the outcome must translate into concrete government policies and programmes rather than become another report abandoned on government shelves.

The President gave the directive on Monday, November 9, at the closing ceremony of the National Youth Conference held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Tinubu directed the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, to work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, the private sector and development partners to develop a practical framework for implementing the conference recommendations.

He said the framework must clearly identify priority areas, assign responsibilities to relevant institutions, establish realistic implementation timelines and provide measurable indicators for tracking progress.

The President also insisted that young Nigerians must remain actively involved beyond the conference, particularly in the implementation and monitoring of the adopted resolutions.

He warned against a situation in which young people would only be invited to participate in discussions without having a meaningful role in the decisions and actions that follow.

“The real test of this Conference begins after today. I do not want the recommendations of this Conference to become another report gathering dust on government shelves. I want them to become a guide for action,” Tinubu said.

He added that young Nigerians must have a place at the table when decisions arising from the conference are being implemented, not merely when they are being discussed.

Acknowledging the challenges confronting young people, the President identified unemployment, the rising cost of living, limited access to education, inadequate business opportunities and insecurity as major concerns requiring sustained government attention.

He maintained that the administration’s investments in education, technical skills, innovation and entrepreneurship were intended to expand opportunities for young Nigerians.

Tinubu specifically mentioned the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, YouthCred and the Nigerian Youth Academy as initiatives designed to support young people.

However, he stressed that skills acquisition must lead to employment opportunities, innovation must attract investment, and young entrepreneurs must have improved access to financing.

Earlier, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed that the conference had produced an 18-point action agenda covering six major thematic areas following nationwide virtual consultations and physical deliberations involving youth representatives from across Nigeria and the diaspora.

The six thematic areas covered governance, economic transformation, education, technology, climate change, and social cohesion and security.

Among the recommendations reported by delegates were proposals for stronger youth participation in governance, improved educational opportunities, prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and gratuities, accessible learning facilities for persons with disabilities, and industry-recognised skills certification for students in tertiary institutions.

The conference also considered recommendations on entrepreneurship, job creation, digital transformation, renewable energy, environmental protection, security and national development.

Delegates reportedly proposed the establishment of a Ministry for Persons with Disabilities, or alternatively, a dedicated department within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to address issues affecting persons with disabilities.

Other recommendations included strengthening existing youth development structures, improving digital literacy, expanding access to alternative energy in underserved communities and promoting sustainable drainage and flood-control infrastructure.

On security and social cohesion, delegates considered proposals relating to insecurity, peaceful farmer-herder relations, national unity and the effective utilisation of Nigeria’s natural resources to support economic development and job creation.

The recommendations were developed through deliberations and voting across the conference’s thematic groups, with the minister assuring participants that the Federal Ministry of Youth Development would work towards translating the proposals into policies, programmes and opportunities.

Olawande described the conference as an important opportunity for young Nigerians to participate more directly in national decision-making.

He said the recommendations would be pursued through relevant executive, legislative and judicial channels to secure the institutional support required for implementation.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, urged young Nigerians to contribute actively to shaping the country’s economic future and strengthening investor confidence.

Oyedele warned that negative perceptions and distorted narratives about Nigeria could discourage investment, undermine economic confidence and ultimately reduce employment and business opportunities.

He emphasised the connection between investment, production and job creation, noting that businesses that fail to invest or establish factories also represent employment opportunities that are not created.

The National Youth Conference was convened by the Tinubu administration to provide a platform for young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to deliberate on national challenges and make recommendations on youth participation in governance, economic development and nation-building.

The virtual phase of the conference took place between October 2 and October 21, 2026, across the six geopolitical zones, while the physical phase commenced on November 4 in Abuja, with delegates drawn from federal constituencies across the country.

With the conference now concluded, attention is shifting to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other relevant institutions to establish how the 18-point action agenda will be translated into government policies, funded programmes and measurable outcomes.

The President’s directive places particular emphasis on implementation timelines, institutional responsibilities and youth participation in monitoring progress. However, the specific timetable for executing individual recommendations and the funding arrangements for the proposed interventions were not detailed in the reports of the closing ceremony.

For millions of young Nigerians who participated in or followed the conference, the next phase will be measured by the extent to which the recommendations produce practical improvements in education, employment, entrepreneurship, technology, security and opportunities for national development.

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