National Youth ConfAB: A Call for Inclusive Action and Accountability.

By Rt. Hon. Jerry Gwom

Speaker, Nigeria Youth Parliament, Plateau State Chapter.

Introduction: A Demographic Imperative.

Nigeria’s announcement of the 2025 National Youth Conference comes at a pivotal moment. With over 70% of our population under 30, this event is not merely symbolic — it is a demographic and strategic necessity. As the Speaker of the Plateau State Youth Parliament, I view this conference as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to transforming its youth bulge into a force for progress. While optimism is warranted, history cautions us: past initiatives have too often prioritized optics over outcomes. For Plateau’s youth, and indeed all Nigerians, this conference must mark a shift from tokenism to tangible change.

The Administration’s Initiative: Beyond Rhetoric

The decision to convene this conference reflects a belated recognition of youth as Nigeria’s greatest asset. However, skepticism lingers. Previous administrations have launched youth-focused programs only to abandon them to poor implementation or political expediency. The #EndSARS movement, born from years of systemic neglect, underscores the urgency of addressing unemployment, exclusion, and institutional marginalization.

To succeed, the 2025 conference must prioritize structural dialogue —embedding youth voices in policymaking at all levels. This means binding commitments to fund youth entrepreneurship, revise discriminatory policies, and institutionalize youth representation in governance. Transparency and youth-led agendas are non-negotiable. Without these, the conference risks becoming another footnote in Nigeria’s history of unfulfilled promises.

Plateau State’s Challenges: A Microcosm of National Struggles.

In Plateau State, three interconnected crises define the youth experience:

1. Unemployment and Underemployment: Over 60% of our youth lack formal job opportunities, fueling poverty and rural-urban migration. This exodus drains our communities of talent and perpetuates cycles of deprivation.

2. Ethno-Religious Conflict: Recurring violence disrupts education and economic activities, leaving young people vulnerable to exploitation by extremist groups. In Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, schools lie in ruins, and hope is scarce.

3. Infrastructural Decay: Dilapidated schools and inadequate healthcare stifle productivity. For instance, the state of primary healthcare in Riyom Local Government leaves many youths without access to basic services.

The Conference’s Role in Plateau’s Revival.

The national conference must adopt a context-driven approach to address these issues. For Plateau, this means:

• A National Youth Employment Pact: Funding state-specific SMEs and agro-industrial hubs in conflict-prone areas to create jobs and stabilize economies.

• Youth-Led Peacebuilding: Establishing reconciliation commissions and skills programs for conflict survivors, empowering them to lead community healing.

• Education Equity: Revamping technical schools and partnering with tech firms like Jos Tech Hub and N-Hub to bridge digital divides.

• Agricultural Revitalization: Leveraging federal grants to support youth-cooperative farming, tapping into Plateau’s vast agricultural potential.

One-size-fits-all solutions will fail. Plateau’s unique context demands tailored strategies that reflect our strengths and challenges.

A Presidential Blueprint: From Promises to Progress.

President Tinubu’s pledge to create a thriving environment for youth must translate into concrete action. As a representative of Plateau’s youth, I propose:

1. Institutionalize Youth Representation: Mandate 30% youth quotas in legislative advisory roles and revive the National Youth Council with budgetary authority.

2. Job Creation: Expand the Youth Investment Fund (YIF) to prioritize green energy and tech startups, coupled with enforceable private-sector internships.

3. Education Overhaul: Prioritize STEM education, subsidize tertiary tuition, and recognize informal skill certifications (e.g., artisan trades prevalent in Jos).

4. Security Reforms: Deploy youth-centric community policing and fast-track courts for gender-based violence cases, which disproportionately affect young women.

5. Tech Innovation: Replicate Lagos’s Yaba Tech Ecosystem by establishing innovation hubs in each geopolitical zone, including Jos.

These measures require collaboration across sectors and robust accountability, such as public dashboards tracking youth-focused SDG progress.

Ensuring Accountability: Lessons from the Past.

Nigeria’s history of broken promises to youth stems from vague commitments and weak enforcement. To avoid repeating these mistakes, the conference must:

• Co-Create Policies: Involve youth in drafting agendas and implementation frameworks. Top-down approaches alienate the very people they aim to serve.

• Legislate Accountability: Pass a Youth Development Act requiring annual progress reviews and allocating 15% of state budgets to youth programs.

• Leverage Technology: Launch “YouthTrackNG,” a platform to monitor commitments and crowdsource feedback in real-time.

• Independent Oversight: Empower civil society groups like Enough is Enough (EiE) to audit government actions post-conference.

For example, if the conference commits to creating 500,000 annual tech jobs, partnerships with institutions and firms like Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and Andela could train and place youths, with quarterly progress reports published publicly.

Conclusion: Youth as Partners, Not Beneficiaries.

The 2025 National Youth Conference is a defining opportunity for Nigeria. For Plateau State, where hope and hardship coexist, the stakes are existential. This conference must transcend political theater and deliver systemic changes.

To the federal government: The youth are not passive recipients of policy but partners in national renewal. To my peers in Plateau and across Nigeria: Hold leaders accountable. Demand transparency. Insist on inclusivity.

Our collective future hinges on this moment. Let us seize it—not with blind faith, but with vigilance, courage, and unwavering resolve.

Rt. Hon. Jerry Gwom

Advocate for Inclusion and Sustainable Development