Tinubu Directs Ministries To Implement Recommendations Of Youth Conference

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Youth Development to work with relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), state governments, the private sector and development partners to implement the recommendations of the 2026 National Youth Conference.

Tinubu gave the directive on Monday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the National Youth Conference, whose address was delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The President directed the Ministry to translate the outcomes of the conference into a practical implementation framework with clear priorities, assigned responsibilities, realistic timelines and measurable indicators of progress.

He also called for the active involvement of young Nigerians in the implementation and monitoring of the recommendations.

Tinubu said the conference should not end with the production of another report that would eventually gather dust on government shelves, stressing that its recommendations must translate into concrete actions.

“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,” he said.

The President added that young people must not be invited to participate only when decisions are being discussed but must also have a place at the table during implementation.

He said the National Youth Conference was convened to provide a platform for young Nigerians to express themselves, engage constructively and contribute directly to decisions affecting their future.

Tinubu commended the participants for their enthusiasm, quality of ideas, courage and sense of responsibility, saying their contributions had reinforced his confidence in the capacity of Nigerian youths to shape the country’s future.

He said: “You have spoken with passion. You have raised important questions. You have challenged existing approaches and offered fresh solutions.

“Above all, you have demonstrated that the young people of Nigeria are not short of ideas, ambition or the determination to build a better country.”

The President assured the delegates that their concerns and aspirations had been heard and would receive the serious attention they deserved.

He acknowledged the challenges confronting young Nigerians, particularly unemployment, the rising cost of living, access to education, business opportunities and insecurity in their communities.

According to him, the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to build an economy that creates opportunities, rewards enterprise and gives every Nigerian a fair chance to succeed.

Tinubu said his administration was investing in education, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, YouthCred and the Nigerian Youth Academy.

He pledged that the government would do more to ensure that skills training leads to employment opportunities, innovation attracts investment and young entrepreneurs have continued access to finance.

“We will ensure that training leads to opportunities. That innovation attracts investment. That young entrepreneurs can continue to access finance, and that a young Nigerian with talent and determination can succeed, regardless of background or location,” he said.

Tinubu also emphasised the need for inclusiveness in implementing the conference recommendations, particularly for young women, persons with disabilities and those living in rural communities.

“No young Nigerian should be left behind,” he declared.

He urged young Nigerians to deploy their creativity, courage and enterprise towards national development, while also taking responsibility for promoting unity, defending democratic values and participating actively in the country’s democratic process.

The President cautioned against allowing ethnic, religious and political differences to undermine national unity, noting that Nigerians shared a common destiny.

“We may come from different backgrounds, but we share one country and one future. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and building it is a responsibility we must share,” he said.

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, led by Minister Ayodele Olawande, the conference planning committee and other stakeholders for organising the gathering.

He particularly acknowledged young Nigerians who participated in the virtual consultations and delegates who took part in the physical deliberations.

The President said the conference marked the beginning of a stronger partnership between the government and young Nigerians, built on trust, responsibility, opportunity and measurable results.

He subsequently declared the 2026 National Youth Conference closed.