The minister of youth development, Ayodele Olawande, on Thursday urged youths to shift their focus from street protests to constructive dialogue and negotiation.

Mr Olawande made the call in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the Youth National Discourse Abuja 2025, organised by the Eleniyancares Leadership Foundation.

The theme of the discourse was ‘From Protest to Dialogue: Redefining Youth Engagement for National Transformation’.

The minister said that while protest is a feature of democracy, dialogue is essential for sustainable national progress.

“Nigerian youth should shift from street protests to the negotiation table,” he said.

Mr Olawande revealed that his leadership focus was deeply influenced by a young protester whose placard read, ‘I am not angry, but I am poor, I am hungry because no one listens to me’.

“My meeting with this young man with this blanket continues to shape his brief and also hear from him, and my faith that our progress as a country will not come from the streets of protest, but one from the table to dialogue. Protest is part of democracy, but dialogue sustains progress.

“That is why today the theme from protest to dialogue is very important. This gathering itself is proof that Nigerian youth are very passionate and are now ready to channel their position, their perceptions, and what they think, their actions, to make up a reason,” said the minister.

Describing the Nigerian youth as the hardest-working in the world, the minister asserted that their protests stem not from hatred for the country, but from intense love and a refusal to give up.

He noted that for 40 years, the country had been governed by “rulers, not leaders” who ignored the youth, making it impossible for young people to feel the presence of government.

“Our political system has continued to favour the youth in formal groups, those who can speak big grammar and phonetics, while the informal group on the streets that could not speak good English were being neglected.

“I realise that the youth of Nigeria do not protest because they hate this country, it’s just because there is nobody to listen to them. They protest because they love the country so much, and they do not want to give up.

“They believe that by doing one or two things, they will be listened to. They want to be heard, they want to be part of the solution,” Mr Olawande said.

He, however, said that the current administration had ushered in an era of “leaders that listen”, noting that for the first time in the country’s history, a young person is in charge of the youth ministry.

Mr Olawande urged youth to engage the government more through research and value contribution, rather than confrontation.

He noted that the 2025 budget alone has over 869 Youth initiatives, which young people need to be aware of and connect with.

(NAN)