By Franca Ofili
Conference
The Ministry of Youth Development and stakeholders have concluded plans to host the Youth Creative Conference (YCC) 2025, scheduled to hold in Abuja from Oct. 22 to 23.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, confirmed this when he received leaders of the Youth Creativity for Change (YCC) Initiative and the AU’s Silencing the Guns team on Tuesday in Abuja.
Olawande said the conference theme was “Silencing the Guns”, aligning with Africa’s peacebuilding agenda and reflecting the aspirations of the African Union and the AU’s Agenda for Renewal.
The conference, he noted, would offer a platform for young Africans, policymakers, and partners to engage in dialogue, promote peace, and inspire development through creativity and sustainable innovation.
“Peace and security remain at the centre of Nigeria’s foreign policy and continue to guide our leadership role in advancing regional stability across West Africa and the African continent.
“Nigeria has contributed significantly to peacekeeping operations, from Libya and Syria to The Gambia, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and regional solidarity,” the minister added.
He said Nigeria aimed to promote the Nordic approach, which emphasised creativity, innovation, education, and governance, to address the root causes of conflict and promote sustainable peace in Africa.
“Silencing the Guns is not just about ending war.
“It means ensuring justice, creating opportunity, and driving innovation that transforms communities and empowers future generations across our continent,” Olawande said.
With young people comprising nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population, he said the country recognised the importance of youth innovation and their central role in shaping Africa’s peaceful future.
The conference, he said, would empower youth to take ownership of their future, contribute to growth, and play meaningful roles in building inclusive and prosperous societies across Africa.
Olawande said the expected outcomes aligned with Agenda 2063’s aspirations, especially inclusive growth, good governance, and people-driven development, which were key to Africa’s long-term transformation.
He noted that the event also supported Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, the “Four Ds”: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Defence, especially through youth empowerment and cross-border collaboration.
“Nigeria is committed to enabling young Africans to lead peacebuilding efforts through creativity, art, technology, and innovation as tools for positive change and regional transformation,” the minister stated.
He also emphasised the ministry’s commitment to youth entrepreneurship, saying it was a pathway to economic development, job creation, and a proactive measure against violence and insecurity.
“Nigeria will continue working with the African Union and other partners to strengthen cooperation on governance reform, inclusive education, climate security, and digital transformation.
“This conference is more than a dialogue, it’s a declaration of youth power as peacebuilders, innovators, and global citizens shaping Africa’s future with energy, creativity, and vision,” he said.
He said Nigeria was proud to host the conference as Africa’s most populous country, and one that was ready to provide responsive leadership for youth empowerment and inclusive peacebuilding across the region.
According to Olawande, more than 1,000 delegates are expected in Abuja.
He expressed confidence that the event would mark a major milestone in Africa’s collective journey to silence the guns.
Also speaking, Mr Blaize-Kizito Ndukwe, Convener of Youth Creativity for Change (YCC) Initiative, lauded the initiative’s continental impact, just four months after its official launch.
Ndukwe said YCC leveraged youth creativity as a tool for peace, employing non-violent, innovative strategies that reflected Africa’s diversity, resilience, and potential for unity.
Mr Ernest Dolo, Coordinator of the AU’s Silencing the Guns Unit, reaffirmed the African Union’s support for youth-led peacebuilding efforts across the continent.
“Youth are not just the future, they are the present.
“By engaging them now, we’re laying the foundation for lasting peace and inclusive development in Africa,” Dolo stated.
He added that the Silencing the Guns initiative operated through a Master Roadmap, placing youth engagement at the centre, in collaboration with RECs, governments, civil society, and traditional institutions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
