Youth Minister, Olaopa Lead National Rebirth Talks At CLTC Conference

As part of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, and Future Africa CEO, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, will on Tuesday lead conversations with Nigerian youths on rebuilding national values and strengthening civic responsibility.

The conference, organised by the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) in collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Group on Youth (UNIAGY) and the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), is themed “Nigeria @ 65: Reviving Values and Volunteerism among the Youth.”

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s search for unity and trust in governance, the conference aims to rekindle the culture of service, volunteerism and community leadership among the country’s youth population.

According to the Head of Information Unit of CLTC, Chinwe Nduka, in a statement issued on Thursday, the initiative was “a call for young Nigerians to embrace service, volunteerism, and civic responsibility as pathways to rebuilding national values and strengthening the social fabric.”

One of the major highlights will be the grand finale of the Youth Leadership Debate, an NYFF initiative that gives young Nigerians a platform to articulate bold ideas and present their vision for a stronger, more cohesive nation.

Also expected to speak are some of the country’s most prominent youth advocates, including Samson Itodo (Executive Director, YIAGA Africa), Rotimi Olawale (Executive Director, Youth Hub Africa), Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas (Director, NYFF), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet (SSA to the President on Community Engagement – North Central), Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa (SSA to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities), Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi (SA to the President on Youth Initiatives), Surayyah Ahmad (Founding Partner, Sabou Capital), Aishat Dahiru (Youth Focal Point, IOM Nigeria), Rafiat Atanda (Communications Specialist, UNODC), and Rex Stephen Ojochegbe, a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.

Supported by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the conference reflects a growing consensus that Nigeria’s transformation depends on empowering its young population to take ownership of the nation’s future.

Participants are expected from universities, youth-led organisations and community-based groups nationwide, while virtual attendance options have been provided to ensure inclusivity and wider participation.

With a lineup of dynamic speakers and thought-provoking sessions, organisers say the CLTC conference will not only mark Nigeria’s Independence milestone but also set the tone for a generation determined to rebuild the nation through integrity, innovation and service.