In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement of a 30-day youth conference, we must critically assess the implications of such a decision. While the President claims this gathering is essential for stabilizing the economy, fostering national unity, and engaging the youth—who represent over 60% of Nigeria’s population—it is crucial to question whether this approach is the best use of our limited resources.
Hosting an event of this magnitude is projected to cost at least several billions of naira, funds that could be better allocated to tangible projects that directly address the pressing issues facing our nation. Nigeria does not need another theoretical forum that risks becoming a bureaucratic exercise in futility. What has been the outcome of previous conferences, such as the one held during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure? Such gatherings often yield little more than lofty speeches and unfulfilled promises.
The criteria for participation in this confab raises further concerns. Experience tells us that the vast majority of attendees will likely consist of APC loyalists, the children of influential politicians, and the elite—individuals detached from the harsh realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. Many of these participants enjoy privileges that insulate them from the struggles of the youth they purport to represent. They have stable homes, secured futures, and lack firsthand knowledge of the challenges affecting the millions of youths in Nigeria who struggle daily for basic necessities.
Are we to believe that these elites can adequately represent the voices of young people who are suffering from unemployment, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare? The disconnect is glaring. The youth we need at the forefront of this conversation are those who face systemic barriers every day—those who possess innovative solutions yet lack the platforms and support to implement their ideas.
Take my own situation as a poignant example. I have the capability and resources to feed one million people each month, and I can single-handedly empower one million youths if I can initiate my initiative effectively. However, I find myself hindered by the lack of access to working capital to implement my ideas. The stark reality is that many youths with sustainable ideas and programs encounter the same obstacles. They are overlooked simply because they are not well-known figures or do not have the backing of powerful connections. This lack of support for promising initiatives is crippling our nation and stifling the potential of our youth.
Most times, I reflect on how many of our leaders who are doing well today often have faced ugly past histories of survival. This should serve as a reminder to the government that they must support the voiceless in order to rise and fix the country. The so-called political thugs they employ are often born to be geniuses, yet they end up as thugs not by choice but due to the lack of financial resources to further their education, resulting in lives lost to frustration and desperation.
Instead of a lengthy confab, what Nigeria truly requires are proactive measures to revitalize our economy and uplift our youth. We should look to successful programs like YouWin! from the Jonathan administration, which offered real support to young entrepreneurs. Such initiatives provided resources to individuals who had the potential to create jobs and drive economic growth, unlike the proposed conference that seems more like a ploy to siphon funds than a genuine effort to engage our youth.
As a voice for the voiceless, I implore our government to abandon this impractical plan. We do not need 30 days of discussions that lead to nowhere; we need decisive actions that will positively impact the lives of our young people. There are countless innovative initiatives waiting to be implemented, yet they remain unsupported simply because the initiators lack connections. This negligence is stifling potential and perpetuating a cycle of poverty and frustration among our youth.
In conclusion, if we truly seek to heal our nation, we must turn our hearts and minds towards the genuine needs of our people. As the scriptures remind us, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Similarly, the Quran calls us to uphold justice and support one another, as seen in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:8): “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses in justice for the sake of Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is aware of what you do.”In the spirit of unity and collective responsibility, we must strive for justice and work together to uplift one another. It is time for action, not empty rhetoric. Nigeria deserves better than a mere confab; we need a commitment to real change and the empowerment of our youth. Let’s fix Nigeria together.
- By Dr. Tofunmi Ogunronbi, Former Gubernatorial Candidate, Ogun State
Advocate for Good Governance and Youth Development
