The Federal Government and Lagos State Government will co-host the first Abuja Dialogue on youth leadership on Monday, 13 April 2026, in Abuja. Themed "Scaling Excellence: Youth Leadership as Strategic Infrastructure for National Transformation," the event precedes the Lagos Leadership Summit and aims to shift youth development from symbolic inclusion to structured responsibility. Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, disclosed the details at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, stressing that youth leadership must be grounded in competence, discipline, and accountability. He said the dialogue will explore mechanisms such as structured training, mentorship, institutional exposure, and performance evaluation to build sustainable leadership capacity.
Hadejia noted the Office of the Vice President sees collaboration with committed institutions as vital to scaling youth leadership effectively. Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), described the event as a step toward transforming youth initiatives from palliative measures into systematic, nationwide frameworks. She said the LJLA, established under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's administration, now aims to expand its impact beyond Lagos. Lagos State's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, confirmed Governor Sanwo-Olu's full endorsement, adding that both he and President Bola Tinubu prioritise youth empowerment. Vice President Kashim Shettima also endorsed the dialogue, which seeks to position youth development as a national priority requiring sustained media attention.
