[EXCLUSIVE]:: YOUTH CONFAB UNVEILS 18 MAJOR RESOLUTIONS: FROM YOUTH INCLUSION IN GOVERNANCE TO FREE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES, JOB CREATION AND SECURITY REFORMS
The 2026 National Youth Conference has produced an 18-point policy agenda outlining major recommendations for Nigeria's governance, economic development, education, technological advancement, environmental sustainability and national security.
The resolutions, adopted by delegates representing 37 states, according to the published conference resolutions portal, emerged from deliberations designed to give young Nigerians a stronger voice in shaping national policies and determining the country's development priorities.
The recommendations are structured around six thematic pillars: Governance, Leadership and Political Participation; Economic Transformation, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation; Education and Seven-Star Skills for the Future; Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation; Climate Change and Energy Transition; and Social Cohesion and Security. National Youth Confab 2026 +1
The resolutions outline proposals that, if translated into actionable government policies, could have implications for students, young entrepreneurs, job seekers, technology innovators, persons with disabilities and other segments of the Nigerian population.
Below are the 18 major resolutions adopted at the conference.
Under the governance pillar, delegates proposed three major reforms aimed at strengthening youth representation, leadership development and accountability in public institutions.
The recommendations include:
* Strengthening and restructuring existing youth organisations while establishing sustainable mentorship programmes to prepare young people for leadership responsibilities.
* Adopting youth-inclusive frameworks across political parties and executive institutions to expand opportunities for young Nigerians in political and administrative decision-making.
* Establishing youth-led civic engagement, accountability and digital participation frameworks to enable young people to participate more actively in governance and monitor public institutions.
The proposals seek to move youth participation beyond political consultations and symbolic representation towards more structured involvement in decision-making.
The second pillar contains three resolutions addressing security, disability inclusion and access to alternative energy.
They include:
* Improving security through the maintenance of military equipment, stronger anti-terrorism laws and the promotion of peaceful farmer-herder relationships through traditional rulers.
* Establishing a dedicated Ministry for Persons With Disabilities, headed by a person with disability, or alternatively creating a PWD-led department within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
* Promoting alternative energy sources, particularly solar and wind power, to improve electricity access in rural communities.
These recommendations touch on some of the structural conditions affecting economic participation, inclusion and productivity across the country.
The education pillar contains proposals directed at improving the learning environment, strengthening teachers' welfare and connecting academic qualifications with industry requirements.
The three resolutions are:
* Ensuring prompt payment of teachers' salaries and gratuities.
* Providing accessible educational facilities and adequate support for learners living with disabilities.
* Introducing industry-recognised skills certification for every tertiary institution student.
The proposed industry-recognised certification is particularly significant for discussions around graduate employability, as it seeks to connect academic learning with practical competencies required by employers and industries.
If implemented, the proposal could encourage greater integration of professional and vocational skills into tertiary education.
Recognising the increasing importance of technology in national development, delegates also adopted three recommendations focused on digital inclusion and technological advancement.
They include:
* Creating platforms through which young people across different constituencies can engage in conversations about technology and youth participation in government.
* Empowering existing government parastatals to facilitate technological development.
* Promoting digital literacy for all and ensuring accessible digitalisation.
These proposals seek to expand digital participation and strengthen the capacity of public institutions to support technological innovation.
On environmental sustainability, delegates adopted three resolutions addressing renewable energy, flood prevention and forest conservation.
The recommendations include:
* Expanding access to affordable and reliable renewable energy in underserved communities.
* Investing in sustainable drainage systems and flood-control infrastructure to address flooding and its associated environmental and economic consequences.
* Strengthening forest protection and restoration through afforestation and reforestation programmes.
The proposals recognise the importance of environmental sustainability and the need for infrastructure capable of responding to climate-related challenges.
The final pillar focuses on national security, economic inclusion through natural resources and the implementation of constitutional and institutional responsibilities.
The three resolutions include:
* Harnessing Nigeria's abundant natural resources to create employment and strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises through the development of national and localised manufacturing refineries.
* Strengthening prosecution for violations of security laws and establishing regulated and funded community vigilante structures.
* Ensuring the full implementation of the Federal Character Commission's mandate.
The recommendations address national security, equitable representation and the need to maximise the country's natural resources for employment generation and enterprise development.
Following the conclusion of the conference, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, under Minister Ayodele Olawande, to immediately commence the implementation process.
Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, at the closing ceremony in Abuja, the President directed the ministry to collaborate with relevant ministries, departments and agencies, state governments, private-sector operators and development partners.
He further demanded an implementation framework containing clearly defined priorities, assigned responsibilities, realistic timelines and measurable performance indicators.
Tinubu also insisted that young Nigerians must participate in implementing and monitoring the resolutions rather than being restricted to consultations and policy discussions. Punch Newspapers +1
The Federal Government had earlier indicated that recommendations requiring executive action would be channelled to the Federal Executive Council, while proposals requiring legislation would be forwarded to the National Assembly. A proposed multi-stakeholder task force and youth-led monitoring framework were also outlined to track implementation. The Sun Nigeria.
With the adoption of the 18-point agenda, the National Youth Conference has placed several important issues on the national policy agenda.
However, the real significance of the resolutions will depend on the government's ability to move beyond policy documentation and establish practical mechanisms for implementation.
For Nigerian students, the proposed industry-recognised skills certification could reshape conversations around graduate employability. For young entrepreneurs, improved access to technology, energy and productive economic infrastructure could create new opportunities. For young people seeking greater political representation, the proposed governance reforms could open further avenues for participation in public institutions.
The President's directive has therefore shifted attention to the next stage of the process: translating the conference's recommendations into policies, legislation, institutional reforms and measurable development outcomes.
For millions of Nigerian youths, the expectation is clear: the 18 resolutions must become more than conference declarations; they must become meaningful opportunities and lasting national reforms.
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