Nigeria launches youth policy forum and vocational training initiatives

The Nigerian government has launched several initiatives focused on youth engagement and vocational development. President Bola Tinubu formally opened the 2026 National Youth Confab in Abuja, a platform designed to allow young Nigerians to contribute ideas and alternatives to national policy-making. The conference aims to move beyond symbolic representation by integrating youth perspectives into decisions regarding national security, social cohesion, and economic development.

Simultaneously, the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the World Bank, is implementing the IDEAS-TVET project. This initiative provides technical and vocational training to thousands of youths across various states, including Abuja, Niger, and Kogi. The program focuses on market-driven skills such as digital media, agriculture, fashion design, and solar installation to improve employability and entrepreneurship.

In a separate effort to enhance governance, President Tinubu has ordered the establishment of a quarterly Government-Civil Society Policy Dialogue Forum. This forum is intended to institutionalize citizen participation in policy formulation and strengthen accountability between the state and civil society organizations.