Tinubu unveils national youth confab planning committee

President Bola Tinubu on Monday unveiled the planning committee of the National Youth Confab at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. The Committee will be chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Olubunmi Olusanya.

Monday’s inauguration comes five months after Tinubu, in his last Independence Day broadcast, announced plans for a 30-day national youth confab to address critical issues facing the country’s youths.

At the ceremony, the President tasked the youths to seize the opportunity to redefine the fortunes of millions of their counterparts across the nation and urged the committee to priotise discussions on technology and agriculture to achieve food sovereignty for Nigeria.

He emphasised their crucial role in Nigeria’s success, asking them to voice their concerns and ideas.

In his remarks the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the confab will be convoked to promote youth engagement. Olawande said the committee members were carefully selected as representatives were drawn from the Ministry of Finance, related Federal Ministries, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, the World Bank, among others.

A lead member of the youth confab planning committee and Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, lauded the President’s initiative to convene a youth conference.

Itodo said the 30-day National youth Confab will be segmented into virtual consultations, regional meetings and youths will converge on Abuja for a one-week conference.

However, he warned the FG against a political hijack, asking that the confab remain insulated from politics.

Other members of the planning committee are Senate Chairman on Niger Delta Development Commission, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Dr Linus Okorie, Dr Garba Aliyu, Babatunde Adeleke, Francis Sani, Azeezat Yishawu, Sara-Igbe Sukubo, Hauwa Ibrahim, Zara Goni, Oladele Nihi, Dare Ojepe, Uchechukwu George Egbe, Samson Itodo amongst others.

The planning committee also comprises representatives of the Ministry of Finance, World Bank, among others.