AN ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 2026 NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE (YOUTH CONFAB), ABUJA, MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2026. THE SPEECH WAS DELIVERED BY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TAJUDEEN ABBAS

PROTOCOL

My dear young Nigerians,

Today, I stand before you with a renewed sense of hope and confidence in the future of our great nation.

Over the past few days, you have gathered from different parts of Nigeria, and from beyond our shores, to discuss the future of our country.

I have followed the proceedings of this Conference with keen interest.

And I must tell you that I am particularly pleased with the enthusiasm, the quality of ideas, the courage and the sense of responsibility demonstrated by young Nigerians throughout these engagements.

You have spoken with passion. You have raised important questions. You have challenged existing approaches and offered fresh solutions.

Above all, you have demonstrated that the young people of Nigeria are not short of ideas, ambition or the determination to build a better country.

I am proud of you.

I commend the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Ayodele Olawande, the Planning Committee and all stakeholders whose dedication and hard work have made this Conference possible.

I particularly congratulate the young Nigerians who participated in the virtual consultations and the delegates who took part in the physical deliberations.

Your enthusiasm, thoughtful contributions and willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue have reinforced my conviction that Nigeria’s young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow.

You are important partners in shaping the Nigeria of today. My dear young Nigerians, when we conceived this National Youth Conference, our intention was clear.

We wanted to create a national platform where young Nigerians could speak freely, engage constructively and contribute directly to the decisions that shape their future.

We did not convene this Conference simply to listen to speeches or produce another document. We convened it because the future of Nigeria cannot be discussed without the young people who will inherit it, and I am happy that you have justified the confidence we placed in you.

Let me assure you today that your voices have been heard. Your concerns matter. Your aspirations matter. Your recommendations will receive the serious attention they deserve.

I understand the challenges confronting our young people. I know that many of you are concerned about employment, the cost of living, access to education, opportunities to start businesses and the security of your communities.

I also understand your desire for a country where hard work is rewarded, talent is recognised and opportunities are not determined by who you know or where you come from. These are legitimate expectations. They are expectations that government has a responsibility to address.

Our Renewed Hope Agenda is founded on the determination to build an economy that creates opportunities, rewards enterprise and gives every Nigerian a fair chance to succeed.

We have taken difficult decisions to lay the foundation for a stronger and more productive economy. I know that these reforms have come with sacrifices. But I also know that young Nigerians deserve more than explanations about the difficulties of today.

You deserve to see the opportunities of tomorrow becoming realities in your lives. That is why we are investing in education, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. Through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the Three Million Technical Talent program, the YouthCred, the Nigerian Youth Academy and other initiatives, we are working to remove barriers and open new pathways for young Nigerians.

And we will do more. We will ensure that training leads to opportunities. That innovation attracts investment. That young entrepreneurs can continue to access finance, and that a young Nigerian with talent and determination can succeed, regardless of background or location.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

The real test of this Conference begins after today. I do not want the recommendations of this Conference to become another report gathering dust on government shelves. I want them to become a guide for action.

I therefore direct the Honourable Minister of Youth Development to work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, the private sector and development partners to translate the outcomes of this Conference into a practical implementation framework.

That framework must identify clear priorities, assign responsibilities, establish realistic timelines and provide measurable indicators of progress. I also expect young people to remain actively involved in the implementation and monitoring process.

You must not be invited to the table only when decisions are being discussed. You must also have a place at the table when those decisions are being implemented.

Our commitment must extend to young women, persons with disabilities, young people in rural communities and those whose circumstances have too often limited their opportunities.

No young Nigerian should be left behind.

My dear young Nigerians,

Do not underestimate your power to change this country. Nigeria needs your creativity. Nigeria needs your courage. Nigeria needs your enterprise. Nigeria needs your leadership.

But leadership also demands responsibility. Use your voices to advance ideas. Use your platforms to promote understanding. Challenge what is wrong, defend what is right and participate actively in the democratic process.

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.

Nigeria belongs to all of us, and building it is a responsibility we must share. I remain committed to a Nigeria where young people are not merely waiting for opportunities but are equipped and supported to create them.

A Nigeria where the son of a farmer can become a technology innovator, where a young woman in a rural community can build a successful enterprise. A Nigeria where a graduate can turn knowledge into meaningful work, and where the dreams of our young people are not limited by the circumstances of their birth.

That is the Nigeria we are working together to build.

As you return to your communities, take with you the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and national service that has defined this gathering. This Conference may be ending today, but your responsibility to Nigeria continues. My administration will continue to listen, engage and work with you.

Let this be the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and the young people of Nigeria. A partnership built on trust, responsibility, opportunity and measurable results.

On that note, it is my honour to formally declare the 2026 National Youth Conference closed.

May God bless the youth of Nigeria.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria