The Forum of State Chairmen of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has secured an assurance from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development on the inclusion of representatives of the Council as critical stakeholders in the forthcoming National Youth Confab.
The assurance was given by the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, during a strategic meeting with the 36 state chairmen and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chairman of the NYCN Forum in Abuja on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The development comes against the backdrop of the Federal Government's plan to convene the National Youth Confab in October, with the physical conference expected to bring together young delegates from Nigeria's 360 federal constituencies, alongside diaspora representatives and other stakeholders.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Minister assured the Forum that NYCN representatives would be accommodated within the 360-delegate structure being planned for the final phase of the programme.
The Forum welcomed the assurance, stressing that the participation of established youth structures was essential to ensuring that the voices, experiences and aspirations of young Nigerians were adequately reflected in national conversations on youth development.
The Forum also reaffirmed its commitment to sustained collaboration with the Ministry and other relevant stakeholders on policies and programmes addressing youth welfare, capacity development, economic opportunities, skills acquisition, inclusion and civic participation.
It called for stronger institutional mechanisms capable of translating youth-focused policies into tangible opportunities and measurable outcomes across the 36 states and the FCT.
The Forum further expressed confidence in the leadership of the Minister and pledged to maintain constructive engagement with the Ministry in the collective interest of Nigerian youths.
It said issues within the youth development ecosystem should be addressed through dialogue, consultation and established institutional processes, while urging stakeholders to promote unity and stability within the youth constituency.
The Forum also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at advancing youth inclusion, good governance, economic empowerment, skills development and meaningful participation of young people in national affairs.
It maintained that effective collaboration between government and legitimate youth structures remained critical to ensuring that youth policies and programmes reflected grassroots realities and produced sustainable results.
The Federal Government had earlier announced that the National Youth Confab would be anchored on six broad areas, including governance and political participation, entrepreneurship and job creation, education and skills, technology and digital innovation, climate action and energy transition, as well as security and social cohesion.
The Ministry has described the initiative as a platform for young Nigerians to articulate concerns, develop policy proposals and contribute practical solutions to national challenges.
The NYCN Forum commended Olawande and his team for what it described as their openness and constructive engagement during the meeting.
The Forum said it remained committed to working with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other stakeholders to strengthen youth participation and ensure that the interests and aspirations of Nigerian youths were meaningfully integrated into national development processes.
