The Federal Government has commenced the virtual engagement phase of the 2026 National Youth Confab, with young Nigerians from the North-Central geopolitical zone participating in discussions on national development and governance.
The virtual engagement, which began on Monday, is designed to provide young Nigerians with an opportunity to articulate their concerns, aspirations and recommendations on issues affecting the country.
Director-General of the Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS), Chief Obinna Nwaka, disclosed this in a statement issued by the organisation’s Media Officer, Mr Hosea Parah, in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Nwaka led the monitoring of the virtual sessions from the situation room, alongside Mr Segun Dada, Senior Special Assistant to the President on New Media and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Media.
The engagement followed the opening ceremony of the Youth Confab, led by the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande.
Nwaka said the exercise represented another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to create platforms through which young Nigerians could participate in discussions on the country’s future.
He said the virtual sessions enabled participants to move beyond expressing concerns to proposing practical ideas and solutions to some of the challenges confronting the nation.
Describing the Youth Confab as an important platform for youth participation in national affairs, Nwaka said it would provide young Nigerians with an avenue to engage directly on issues including governance, economic opportunities, education, technology, employment and social inclusion.
He described the initiative as “the best gift President Bola Tinubu has given Nigerian youths to dialogue,” saying it could help deepen the participation of young people in national development.
The CYMS director-general also commended members of the Sub-Committee on Contacts and Mobilisation for their commitment and dedication to the process.
Nwaka expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the first day of the virtual engagement, noting that the exercise recorded significant progress despite the logistical challenges associated with coordinating young people from different locations.
He said the successful commencement of the virtual sessions reflected the commitment of the various committees and support teams working to achieve the objectives of the 2026 National Youth Confab.
He added that the engagement would provide a broader platform for young Nigerians to contribute to discussions and recommendations that reflect the realities and expectations of their generation.
“As the confab progresses, stakeholders are expected to build on the first day’s engagement and sustain the process towards producing recommendations that reflect the realities, aspirations and expectations of Nigerian youths,” Nwaka said.
The monitoring and coordination team at the situation room included Engr. Ubah Ibrahim, Gloria Ojonugwa, Seun Okunola, Amarah Joseph, Clever Waka, Rose Nwokeocha, Peace Solomon and Comrade Shuiabu Abdulrasheed.
A representative of persons with disabilities (PWD), Fauziyat, also participated in the monitoring exercise, among others.
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