Shettima Says Tinubu’s Policies Prioritise Youths, Commends City Boy Movement
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the programmes and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are largely designed to benefit Nigerian youths, describing young people as the lifeblood of the nation and critical drivers of future development and reform.
Shettima stated this on Thursday while receiving the leadership of the City Boy Movement on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the Vice President, President Tinubu is a forward-thinking leader who embraces modern solutions to address contemporary challenges and remains committed to creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Our eponymous City Boy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a man ahead of his time, a man of progressive conviction who summons modern ideas to meet the problems of our twenty-first century,” Shettima said.
He noted that governance requires courage, patience and the willingness to implement policies that may not attract immediate praise but are necessary for long-term national development.
The Vice President expressed confidence in the administration’s reform agenda, stressing that Nigeria’s economic recovery depends not only on government policies but also on the support and active participation of citizens.
He argued that democracy thrives when citizens remain engaged and committed to national progress beyond election periods.
“There is no verdict on a government more convincing than the solidarity of citizens who volunteer to stand for its success,” he said.
Shettima commended the City Boy Movement for mobilising support for government programmes across the country and encouraging greater citizen participation in governance.
He said democratic systems require not only criticism but also citizens willing to explain public policies, build confidence and support reforms aimed at national development.
“We could not be prouder of the pace you have set in mobilising Nigerians to stand with their government, to stand for the promise of the nation, and to stand in defence of the hard choices required to save this country from inherited decline,” he stated.
The Vice President also praised Seyi Tinubu for his engagement with young Nigerians and efforts to build support networks across communities.
He emphasised that effective leadership involves governing both supporters and critics fairly.
“Politics is the discipline of leading those who admire you and those who despise you alike. You are not a leader until you accept this burden without bitterness,” he said.
Shettima further assured that the Tinubu administration remains committed to protecting democratic freedoms and maintaining an environment where citizens can freely express support or opposition.
“This is the democracy we have come to protect: a free home for those who support us and for those who oppose us, a place where we defend the voices raised against us and guard the freedom even of our critics,” he added.
He urged members of the City Boy Movement to remain disciplined, united and focused on their collective mission, noting that strong institutions are built on trust, consultation and loyalty to a shared purpose.
Earlier, the Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, applauded the achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly in infrastructure and economic development.
He pledged that members of the movement would continue to mobilise support for President Tinubu across the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Shoga said the movement was established to promote the programmes and achievements of the administration while encouraging greater public participation in governance.
Also speaking, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, commended Vice President Shettima for his support for young Nigerians and described him as a strong advocate for youth empowerment.
He disclosed that the City Boy Movement has representatives in all states of the federation and that its national headquarters would soon be commissioned in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by members of the movement and government officials at the Presidential Villa.
Shettima Says Tinubu’s Policies Prioritise Youths, Commends City Boy Movement