Get Guardian on Google… Says policy consistency key to national development
A pan-Yoruba youth organisation, Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC), has hailed the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, over what it described as initiatives and reforms aimed at strengthening youth participation, improving welfare and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.
The coalition described the minister’s efforts as an enormous contribution to the ongoing national conversation on youth development.
According to the group in a statement signed by its Vice President of Administration, Olatunji Adejuwon, and General Secretary,
Abolaji Olaoye, the future of the country depends on the extent to which its young population is empowered, included and equipped to contribute to nation-building.
The group emphasised that the National Youth Confab, reforms affecting the National Youth Service Corps, and the introduction of initiatives such as YouthCred and the Youth Information Centre represent important areas of focus in the effort to build a more responsive and opportunity-driven youth development system.
The Coalition said the initiatives deserve sustained institutional support, effective implementation and continuous improvement so that their benefits can reach young Nigerians across the country.
OYC identified the National Youth Confab 2026 as one of the most salient developments in the country’s youth engagement landscape, commending the Minister’s leadership in bringing young Nigerians together to discuss issues affecting their future and the future of the country.
It said the Confab is an important opportunity to elevate youth voices, encourage constructive dialogue and create a stronger connection between the aspirations of young people and national policy priorities.
The Coalition, however, maintained that the ultimate success of the initiative will depend on how effectively its recommendations are translated into policies, programmes and measurable outcomes, urging sustained attention to implementation so that young Nigerians can see tangible results from the time, ideas and expectations invested in the process.
OYC described improvements in corps members’ welfare as an important aspect of youth-centred governance and encouraged further reforms to strengthen their safety, professional development and transition into employment or entrepreneurship after national service.
The Coalition maintained that meaningful national development requires consistency in policies, institutional stability and the sustained implementation of programmes that demonstrate potential to improve people’s lives.
The statement read in parts, “We believe that the future of Nigeria depends significantly on how well we prepare, empower and include our young people. The National Youth Confab, efforts to improve the welfare of corps members and initiatives such as YouthCred and the Youth Information Centre are important areas of focus in advancing that responsibility.
“Our position is that youth development must be sustained, strengthened and measured by results. Where initiatives are creating platforms for engagement and expanding access to opportunities, the priority should be to improve them, widen their reach and ensure that more young Nigerians benefit.
“We are declaring our total institutional support for Comrade Ayodele Olawande because we believe that youth development requires focused leadership, continuity and strong collaboration among stakeholders. We encourage all relevant institutions to provide the necessary backing for programmes that can deliver meaningful and lasting benefits to Nigerian youths.”
OYC also called on international development partners, investors, multilateral institutions and youth-focused organisations to deepen their engagement with Nigeria in vocational education, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, access to finance, leadership development and job creation.
It said Nigeria’s youthful population represents an enormous opportunity for economic transformation, but that opportunity must be supported by practical investments, inclusive policies and accountable institutions.
The coalition further encouraged youth organisations across the country to engage constructively with public institutions, contribute ideas, monitor implementation and help ensure that development programmes reach the communities and individuals for whom they are intended.
