FG to convene 30-day national youth conference

The federal government is set to organise a national youth conference to “address diverse challenges” confronting young Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu said the conference, which will last for 30 days, will unite Nigerian youths nationwide.

Speaking in his Independence Day address on Tuesday, Tinubu said the conference will “provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building”.

“By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow,” the president said.

“The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.

“The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.

“The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.”

‘YOUTH-CENTRIC PROGRAMMES’

The president said in addition to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the three million technical talents programme of his administration, the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) will be launched before the end of October.

Tinubu said LEEP is geared towards the creation of 2.5 million jobs.

“Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world. We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone,” he said.

“We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.

“In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.”