FG, Lagos to Convene First Abuja Dialogue on Youth Leadership
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, is set to host the maiden Abuja Dialogue aimed at positioning youth leadership at the forefront of national development.
The high-level engagement, scheduled for April 13, 2026, in Abuja, will be held under the theme: “Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation.” The event is expected to serve as a precursor to the Lagos Leadership Summit.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to move youth development beyond rhetoric to structured national priority.
According to him, the Dialogue will focus on building leadership capacity among young Nigerians through structured training, mentorship, institutional exposure, and performance evaluation.
“While inclusion provides access, responsibility requires preparation. It is this preparation that determines whether young people can contribute meaningfully within systems that demand competence and accountability,” he said.
Hadejia noted that the Office of the Vice President is committed to fostering partnerships that will drive youth leadership development at scale, stressing that isolated interventions are insufficient to achieve sustainable impact.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, commended the collaboration, describing it as a strategic step toward institutionalising youth development across the country.
She explained that the Dialogue would bring together key stakeholders to transform youth initiatives from short-term interventions into structured, long-term systems capable of delivering measurable results.
Agbaje-Okunade added that the Academy, established by the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, is expanding its vision to impact youth development nationwide.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, said the Dialogue has received strong backing from both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He emphasised the need to treat youth empowerment and innovation as a national priority, urging sustained media attention to initiatives that promote leadership development among young Nigerians.
The Abuja Dialogue is expected to generate actionable strategies for strengthening youth leadership frameworks and advancing national transformation through inclusive and sustainable policies.
FG, Lagos to Convene First Abuja Dialogue on Youth Leadership