Fed govt, Lagos set to host first Abuja dialogue on youth leadership

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the initiative reflects a shift from rhetoric to a deliberate, structured approach to youth leadership development.

According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Hadejia said the Dialogue underscores the need to move beyond mere inclusion of young people to a more rigorous framework centred on responsibility, preparation, and competence.

“Central to this initiative is the recognition that youth leadership and development must move beyond the language of inclusion toward a more structured understanding of responsibility,” he said.

Hadejia explained that while inclusion offers access, meaningful contribution by young people depends on preparation, discipline, and accountability, which the Dialogue seeks to address through discussions on structured training, mentorship, institutional exposure, and performance evaluation.

He noted that the Office of the Vice President recognises that building youth leadership at scale requires sustained collaboration with institutions committed to leadership development, stressing that the partnership with Lagos State reflects a shared vision to groom capable young leaders.

Earlier, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, described the Dialogue as a platform to rethink youth development strategies in Nigeria.

She commended the Office of the Vice President and the Lagos State Government for what she called a convergence of like-minded institutions seeking to reposition youth initiatives from palliative interventions to sustainable, system-driven programmes.

Agbaje-Okunade said the Academy, established by the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was founded to mainstream human capital development and empower young Nigerians, adding that its vision is now expanding nationwide.

She expressed optimism that the Dialogue's outcome would help institutionalise youth development initiatives and create an enabling environment for young people to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national growth.

Also speaking, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Media and Publicity, said the Dialogue has received strong backing from both Governor Sanwo-Olu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He emphasised the need for sustained national attention on youth development and innovation, urging the media to amplify conversations that position young people as critical drivers of Nigeria’s future.

The Abuja Dialogue is expected to attract policymakers, development partners, and youth-focused institutions, with deliberations aimed at building a robust framework for leadership development across the country.