…Urges youths to shun primordial barriers inhibiting national development
President Bola Tinubu on Monday directed Ministries, Department and Agencies of the federal government to fast track actions on the recommendation of the just concluded national youth conference.
The President who noted that the Confab was not convened ” simply to listen to speeches or produce another document£, added that ” We convened it because the future of Nigeria cannot be discussed without the young people who will inherit it, and I am happy that you have justified the confidence we placed in you.
The President who was represented by Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said his administration environs a “Nigeria where the son of a farmer can become a technology innovator, where a young woman in a rural community can build a successful enterprise.
He noted that their voices have been heard, their concerns and aspirations matter, adding that ” Your recommendations will receive the serious attention they deserve.”
“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.
” I therefore direct the Honourable Minister of Youth Development to work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, the private sector and development partners to translate the outcomes of this Conference into a practical implementation framework.
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“That framework must identify clear priorities, assign responsibilities, establish realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators of progress. I also expect young people to remain actively involved in the implementation and monitoring process.
“You must not be invited to the table only when decisions are being discussed. You must also have a place at the table when those decisions are being implemented.”
You deserve to see the opportunities of tomorrow becoming realities in your lives. That is why we are investing in education, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. Through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the Three Million Technical Talent program, the YouthCred, the Nigerian Youth Academy and other initiatives, we are working to remove barriers and open new pathways for young Nigerians.
And we will do more. 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.
The President charged youths to work against allowing differences in ethnicity, religion or political opinion to become barriers to national development.
He stressed that although they were drawn from different backgrounds, they must remember that they “share one country and one future.”
” Nigeria belongs to all of us, and building it is a responsibility we must share. I remain committed to a Nigeria where young people are not merely waiting for opportunities but are equipped and supported to create them.”
“A Nigeria where a graduate can turn knowledge into meaningful work, and where the dreams of our young people are not limited by the circumstances of their birth.
“That is the Nigeria we are working together to build.”
President Tinubu also charged them to take with them, the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and national service that has defined the Confab, as they return to their various communities.
“This Conference may be ending today, but your responsibility to Nigeria continues” he said.
He assured the youths that his administration will continue to listen, engage and work with them
“Let this be the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and the young people of Nigeria. A partnership built on trust, responsibility, opportunity and measurable results”
The President commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, under the leadership of Ayodele Olawande, the Minister, the Planning Committee and all stakeholders whose dedication and hard work have made the Conference possible.
The conference was initiated to create a national platform where young Nigerians could speak freely, engage constructively and contribute directly to the decisions that shape their future.
The conference which started on the 1st of October, 3026, drew over 360 young people from the various constituencies, across the six geopolitical zones and from the Diaspora
The President assured that “No young Nigerian should be left behind”.
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