Ben Duntoye, a former president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has called on youths to actively engage in the forthcoming national youth conference.

Mr Duntoye, a youth development expert, spoke at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday, following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a planned youth conference in his independence speech on October 1.

He emphasised the significance of the confab, urging young Nigerians to fully utilise the platform to shape the future of the country.

Mr Duntoye urged all youth groups and stakeholders to ensure their delegates were experienced in youth development and had strong track records in leadership and innovation.

“The youth representatives must truly reflect the aspirations of their peers and be well-versed in addressing challenges such as unemployment, education, and social justice,” he said.

He urged groups to nominate young individuals who were passionate and knowledgeable, ensuring that the voices of the youth were adequately heard.

Mr Duntoye, also the Nigeria Youth Workers Association president, stressed the need for youths to take full ownership of the conference and not approach it with apathy.

“This conference is an unprecedented opportunity to secure their future; it is important that they engage meaningfully,” he said.

He further called on the organisers to be meticulous in their selection process by ensuring that credible and competent youth representatives were chosen.

The NYCN president said any attempt to trivialise or politicise the conference would undermine its purpose, adding that it should be a genuine effort to drive youth inclusion in the national discourse.

He urged the federal government to ensure that resolutions from the conference were implemented in practice, not just documented.

(NAN)