The official registration portal for the forthcoming National Youth Conference (NYC) has been launched by the Federal Government.

Also known as the National Youth Confab, the aim of the portal, launched on Monday, is to engage young Nigerians in policy discussions and national development.

According to the Minister of Youth Development, Ayode Olawande, who made the announcement, the registration deadline is set for June 30.

The conference, he said, will enable young Nigerians across the world to contribute to conversations affecting their interests and the future of the country, adding that 36,000 participants drawn from the 360 federal constituencies are expected to register.

Olawande, who announced the theme of the Confab as ‘Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future’, described the initiative as “more than just a conference,” and “a generational turning point, a national movement, and a call to action.”

“This is more than just a conference. It is a generational turning point, a national movement, and a call to action. It is a platform for us to listen, learn, and lead together,” he said.

The New National Star recalls that President Bola Tinubu first announced the planned 30-day Youth Confab during his Independence Day broadcast on October 1, 2024, scheduled to hold in February 2025.

However, it was not until March 10 that Tinubu officially inaugurated a 44-member Planning Committee for the National Youth Conference at the State House in Abuja.

Olawande said that the Confab will be “inclusive, non-partisan, and youth-led,” adding that the event would not be “another talk-shop”, but a platform to generate actionable ideas through inclusive and youth-led engagement.

“Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Youth Confab 2025 will be inclusive, non-partisan, and youth-led,” he said.

He urged interested youths to visit the official portal and complete the registration process, noting that all registered participants will be able to take part in virtual consultations and submit policy recommendations through the website.

In a statement issued after the press briefing, Olubunmi Olusanya, Chairman of the National Planning Committee, said shortlisted applicants will be invited for the in-person component of the conference after undergoing a “rigorous” screening process.

“The Youth Confab is a platform established by the Nigerian Government as a structured avenue for young people to contribute to national discussions and policy formulation in a way that ensures their ideas translate into action.

“The conference will brainstorm and propose workable solutions on how to tackle critical issues affecting youths, such as unemployment, political representation, education, healthcare, etc.,” Olusanya said.