Yiaga Africa Raises Concern On Tinubu’s National Youth Conference

A civil society organization, Yiaga Africa, has raised concerns about the National Youth Conference announced by President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reported that President Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast on Tuesday, announced that the National Youth Conference would take 30 days.

The President said the conference would be a platform for youths to address the diverse challenges confronting them.

“I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 percent of our population.

“It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

“The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.

“Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria,” Tinubu announced.

Yiaga Africa, however, said there is controversy over who is a youth in Nigeria. It stated that while Nigeria’s Youth Policy defined youths as individuals between the ages of 15 and 29 years, the African Youth Charter extended the definition of youths as individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 years.

The civil society organization called on the federal government to give a clear definition of what age bracket constitutes youth in the country.

“President Bola Tinubu has announced a National Youth Confab to provide a platform for young people to engage in critical discussions on governance, the economy, and politics. The first matter for consideration is: who qualifies as a youth? It is essential to have a clear definition to ensure that the conference is not hijacked by individuals who fall outside the youth category.

“The National Youth Policy defines youth as persons between 15 and 29 years, while the African Youth Charter extends the definition to those between 18 and 35 years. This distinction must be considered in constituting the conference,” Yiaga stated on its X handle.