By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The All-Africa Youth Forum (AAYF) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have agreed to strengthen collaboration to promote youth development and enhance Nigeria’s influence in African youth affairs.

The partnership is aimed at empowering young people, fostering unity, and positioning Nigeria as a leading voice in shaping youth-focused policies across the continent.

The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the President of the All-Africa Youth Forum, Dr. Abubakar Bamai Musa, to the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Abuja. The AAYF delegation was received by NYCN officials.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Musa described the partnership as a deliberate and strategic step towards uniting young people and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership role in youth development initiatives across Africa.

“This visit is not merely ceremonial; it signifies a renewed spirit of partnership and collaboration between the All-Africa Youth Forum and the National Youth Council of Nigeria. It is a strategic step towards uniting our efforts in advancing youth development, innovation, and inclusion across the continent,” he said.

Dr. Musa identified key areas of focus for the partnership, including leadership training, civic participation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, digital technology, climate action, peacebuilding, and youth diplomacy.

He said Nigeria’s young and vibrant population places the country in a strong position to contribute significantly to Africa’s progress.

“Our collective goal is to ensure that the Nigerian youth and by extension, African youth are not only participants but key architects of the policies and programs that define their future,” he added.

Chairman of the NYCN IMC, Barr. Buhari Ibrahim Shehu, welcomed the collaboration and assured that the Council was committed to restoring unity and credibility within its structure.

“Surely the National Youth Council of Nigeria is 1 big umbrella that accommodates all and sundry and that seek to unite and put together all Nigerian youths.

“Despite the challenges facing the Council, we are optimistic that as an interim management committee, we will do all that is within our our powers to unite Nigerian youth, harmonise our differences, put forward a credible and acceptable leadership for the Council,” he said.

Shehu commended the Minister of Youth Development for introducing meaningful reforms and youth-friendly initiatives, including the launch of a help desk and an AI-powered chat platform designed to give young Nigerians easier access to jobs, information, and developmental opportunities.

“This is quite a very, very interesting development where you from anywhere in Nigeria can easily access that chat boat and get information, utilise same and put it into practise. I think the minister needs our recommendation on that and all his supporting staff,” he said.

Shehu added that the Minister has mandated the IMC to stabilise the Council, conduct elections, and ensure a smooth transition to a duly elected leadership.

“Similarly, the minister has received the Interim Management Committee of the NYCN and has given us his words that he want us to put this house in order, conduct elections and hand over to duly elected representatives,” he added.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the IMC and Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Youth Development on Gender Matters, Kehinde Charity Awujoola, said the visit came at a crucial time as the committee works to rebuild the Council’s image and restore unity among its members.

“As the name implies, the interim management, this committee is just being put together to act as managers for a period of one year to stabilise the council, bring factions together and be able to produce a young and proper leadership for National Youth Council of Nigeria,” she said.

Awujoola expressed the Council’s readiness to work with the AAYF on programmes that will deliver positive impact to young people in Nigeria and across Africa.

“We are open to collaborations, partnerships. Let us see how we can come together, Co create programmes and projects to have positive effects and impacts on Nigeria youth and extension African youth,” she added.