The Speaker of the 5th Session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Azeezat Yishawu, has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, PhD, GCON, for his unwavering commitment to youth engagement through the biannual Youth Townhall initiative.
This commendation follows the successful Youth Townhall on the 2025 Budget, held earlier today, where critical issues affecting young people were deliberated. The initiative fulfills the Speaker’s July 2023 pledge to host biannual townhalls aimed at fostering dialogue between the government and the youth.
The townhall meeting, which brought together ministers, heads of MDAs, aides, as well as youth and student groups, served as an avenue for young people to contribute meaningfully to their aspirations in the 2025 Budget. Among the key issues raised were calls for increased funding for youth development initiatives and the centralization of youth-related activities to ensure coordinated efforts. These requests were championed by the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Youth Parliament, among other organizations.
Additionally, participants advocated for increased resource allocations to organizations like the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). The aim is to empower these organizations to implement more impactful youth initiatives focused on empowerment and capacity building.
Rt. Hon. Abbas was praised for his dedication to ensuring young people have a platform to discuss pressing issues and for his decision to engage youth directly through his office. During the event, he delivered on his promise by announcing the appointment of eight Senior Legislative Aides (SLAs) to his office, a move designed to enhance youth inclusion in governance.
Dr. Yishawu further applauded the Speaker for prioritizing youth development and acknowledged the significant contributions of Hon. Esim Martins Etim, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development and Hon. Lamir Umar Ibrahim, SA Youth Affairs to the Rt. Hon. Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas, in supporting initiatives that empower the youth.
This milestone reaffirms the Speaker’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians and ensuring they play an active role in shaping the nation’s future.
