POLITICAL POLITICS

Tinubu Urges Youths to Reject Divisions, Implement Conference Recommendations

by admin on | 2026-11-10 12:50:54

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Tinubu Urges Youths to Reject Divisions, Implement Conference Recommendations

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to reject ethnic, religious and political divisions, directing the translation of the 2026 National Youth Conference recommendations into an actionable plan with clear timelines and measurable targets.

The President made the call on Monday at the closing ceremony of the week-long 2026 National Youth Conference, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where he was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

President Tinubu urged young Nigerians to embrace national unity, responsible leadership and active democratic participation, stressing that differences in ethnicity, religion and political affiliation must not undermine their collective responsibility to nation-building.

"Let us never allow our differences in ethnicity, religion or political opinion to become barriers to our common destiny. We may come from different backgrounds, but we share one country and one future," the President declared.

President Tinubu maintained that the end of the conference marked the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and the nation's youths, anchored on accountability, shared responsibility and measurable outcomes.

He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to ensuring that the resolutions of the conference translate into concrete policies and programmes capable of addressing the aspirations and challenges confronting Nigerian youths.

To achieve this, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, the private sector and development partners to develop a comprehensive implementation framework for the conference's recommendations.

The President specified that the framework must establish clear priorities, assign responsibilities, set realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators for tracking progress, while ensuring the active participation of young people in implementation and monitoring.

He emphasised that youth engagement in governance must extend beyond consultations to meaningful involvement in policy execution and decision-making processes.

President Tinubu also acknowledged the challenges confronting young Nigerians, including unemployment, rising living costs, access to education, business financing and insecurity, assuring them that his administration remained committed to expanding economic opportunities.

He explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to build a productive economy that rewards enterprise, encourages innovation and provides equal opportunities for Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds.

Highlighting ongoing interventions, the President identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Three Million Technical Talent Programme, YouthCred and the Nigerian Youth Academy as initiatives aimed at improving access to education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

He assured participants that the government would intensify efforts to ensure that skills development translates into employment opportunities, innovation attracts investment and young entrepreneurs gain improved access to financing.

The President further highlighted the importance of inclusive development, directing that the implementation process accommodate young women, persons with disabilities, rural youths and other vulnerable groups whose circumstances have historically limited their opportunities.

Reflecting on the conference, President Tinubu commended participants for demonstrating intellectual capacity, creativity and a strong commitment to national development, describing their contributions as evidence of the critical role of young Nigerians in shaping the country's future.

The President also applauded the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the conference planning committee and other stakeholders for providing a platform for constructive engagement between the government and young Nigerians.