NDDC MD Samuel Ogbuku Commends President Tinubu on Youth Development at 2026 National Youth Conference
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating sustained commitment to youth development and the inclusion of young Nigerians in national decision-making.
Speaking on Thursday at the 2026 National Youth Conference held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Ogbuku described the gathering—themed “Next Gen Nigeria: Crafting Solutions, Owning the Future”—as a historic platform for young citizens to actively shape the country’s socio-economic trajectory.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer urged delegates to prioritize national unity, mutual understanding, and collaboration across ethnic and regional divides. He charged young Nigerians to channel their creativity and energy toward developing practical solutions to national challenges while demonstrating readiness for leadership and civic responsibility.
Ogbuku expressed confidence that the resolutions reached at the summit would contribute meaningfully to national development.
FG Directs Implementation of Youth Conference Resolutions
Represented at the event by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to translate the conference’s recommendations into tangible policies and measurable programmes.
The President directed the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, the private sector, and development partners to establish a practical implementation framework for the adopted resolutions.
Describing Nigerian youths as critical partners in governance, Tinubu acknowledged pressing challenges facing the demographic, including unemployment, rising cost of living, access to quality education, limited enterprise opportunities, and insecurity.
He noted that the true measure of the conference’s success lies in the direct impact of its policies on young people’s livelihoods, adding that youths must remain involved in both the execution and monitoring of government initiatives.
Economic Growth and the 18-Point Youth Action Agenda
In his keynote address, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, underscored the link between investor confidence, economic expansion, and job creation. He encouraged young Nigerians to embrace innovation and constructive engagement, noting that a conducive investment climate and positive national perception are vital to unlocking economic opportunities.
Earlier, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, disclosed that the 2026 National Youth Conference produced an 18-point action agenda anchored on six core thematic pillars:
Governance, Leadership, and Political Participation
Economic Transformation, Entrepreneurship, and Job Creation
Education and Seven-Star Skills for the Future
Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation
Climate Change and Energy Transition
Social Cohesion and Security
