By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, is set to convene the first Abuja Dialogue aimed at placing youth leadership at the centre of national discourse.
The Dialogue, scheduled for April 13, 2026, in Abuja, will focus on strengthening youth leadership as a driver of national development.
This was contained in a press release by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Friday.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the initiative is designed to move youth engagement beyond rhetoric to a structured and strategic priority.
“While inclusion provides access, responsibility requires preparation, and it is this preparation that ultimately determines whether young people are able to contribute meaningfully within systems that demand competence, discipline, and accountability.”
He said the Dialogue will examine practical mechanisms for building leadership capacity, including structured training, mentorship, institutional exposure, and performance evaluation.
Hadejia noted that developing youth leadership at scale requires deliberate collaboration among institutions committed to nurturing future leaders.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to grooming young leaders through structured programmes that drive leadership exposure, ensuring that individuals are equipped not only with knowledge, but with the capacity to apply that knowledge.”
Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, said the Dialogue would bring together key stakeholders to reposition youth development initiatives.
She described the engagement as an opportunity to move youth-focused programmes from short-term interventions to more structured and sustainable systems.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said the initiative reflects a strong commitment by both the Federal Government and Lagos State to prioritise youth empowerment and innovation.
He added that sustained attention is required to position youth development
as a national priority.
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