By Olusegun Olanrewaju
A group, Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide (NENYLCW), has described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to convene a national youth conference as phenomenal.
It can be recalled that Tinubu made the announcement on Tuesday during his 64th Independence Day Anniversary broadcast.
According to him, the 30-day conference will ensure that the voices of youths are heard and that recommendations are implemented by his administration.
“I am pleased to announce a gathering of the National Youth Conference. This conference platform will address the diverse challenges affecting our young people,” he said.
In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, signed by their President General, Terry Obieh; Vice President, Balarabe Rufai; and National Publicity Secretary, Okwu Nnabuike, the Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders stated that the President’s decision is another clear indication that he means well for the country.
The group recalled that they had earlier made a request for a national dialogue involving youths from the various ethnic nationalities in the country.
According to them, “We are glad that Mr. President made this announcement himself, which is a clear indication that the government takes it very seriously.
Meanwhile, an NGO, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has criticised the 30-day National Youth Conference announced by President Bola Tinubu in his Independence Anniversary broadcast.
The organisation described the proposed conference as a wasteful and ineffective exercise designed to deflect attention from the government’s failures.
In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned the conference as a superficial attempt to engage with the youth, while ignoring the pressing issues confronting Nigeria’s young population.
The group argued that the proposed conference, announced during President Tinubu’s Independence Day address, is a futile gambit aimed at projecting an image of youth inclusion when in reality, the government has failed to tackle the critical issues hindering the progress of Nigerian youths.
The association referred to the conference as “forum shopping,” intended to mask the government’s shortcomings.
“This so-called National Youth Conference is nothing more than a cash-guzzling charade, destined to achieve little to no meaningful outcomes,” HURIWA stated.
“Rather than organising another talk shop, the government should focus on addressing the urgent challenges that directly impact the lives of Nigerian youths, such as poor infrastructure, economic stagnation, and high unemployment.”The organization highlighted the deteriorating state of infrastructure across the country, noting that the lack of development stifles creativity, innovation, and economic advancement for young people.
HURIWA also pointed out that these conditions have led to a surge in irregular migration, as many young Nigerians seek opportunities abroad.
In his Independence Day broadcast, President Tinubu described the upcoming National Youth Conference as a platform to address the diverse challenges facing Nigeria’s youth, who make up more than 60 percent of the population.
The president promised that the conference would focus on key issues like education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. He emphasized that young people would be involved in shaping the agenda through dialogue with policymakers.
However, HURIWA dismissed these promises as hollow. The group argued that similar initiatives in the past, including various national conferences, had failed to produce tangible results or lasting change.
“History has shown that such conferences are nothing but wasted efforts, absorbing vast amounts of public funds without delivering real solutions. This youth conference will be no different,” the group emphasised.
HURIWA criticised the government for its handling of the economy, noting that young Nigerians are disproportionately affected by the economic downturn. The association pointed to the depreciation of the Naira as one of the major issues exacerbating unemployment and poverty.
They highlighted that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 133 million Nigerians now live in multidimensional poverty—a figure that includes a significant number of youths.
“The youths are among the hardest hit by the Naira’s depreciation, a direct result of the administration’s poor economic policies. This has led to widespread unemployment and deepened poverty levels, yet the government is choosing to distract the youth with an empty conference instead of addressing these issues head-on,” HURIWA stated.
The group also called attention to the rising cost of living, rampant inflation, and the lack of price stability as further evidence of the government’s mismanagement of the economy.
HURIWA argued that young Nigerians are struggling to afford necessities, a situation worsened by increasing fuel prices, while the government remains indifferent.
“It is deeply troubling that instead of implementing policies to stabilise prices or lower the cost of living, the government is pouring money into a conference that will yield no meaningful results. This is not responsible governance,” HURIWA lamented.
The association criticized the government’s failure to combat corruption, stating that corruption at all levels continues to undermine any chance of meaningful progress.
HURIWA argued that young Nigerians see this corruption firsthand and are becoming increasingly disillusioned by the lack of decisive action to address it.
“Corruption remains a major factor in the challenges facing Nigerian youths, and this government has shown little willpower to root it out. What we need are concrete reforms, not a 30-day talk shop,” the group added.
HURIWA further emphasized that the problems facing Nigerian youths are well-known and do not require yet another government-organized conference to articulate. Instead, the group called for immediate action to address the core issues affecting young people.
“The challenges of Nigerian youths are painfully clear, and what is needed now are solutions, not empty dialogue and choreographed monologues. This government has so far demonstrated no real interest in listening to the youth or resolving their issues,” HURIWA concluded.
HURIWA urged the government to redirect its focus toward creating policies that promote economic stability, job creation, and social justice, rather than wasting public resources on an ineffective conference.
“The government must prioritise the youth by implementing solutions that address the real challenges they face. Only then can we begin to move towards a more prosperous and inclusive future,” the statement added.
