By Maryam Aminu
The Nigeria Female Youths Organization (NFYO) in collaboration with Michelle’s youth initiative for Sustainable Development (MYiSD), has sought the partnership and support of the Federal Ministry of Finance for the proposed First National Female Youth Conference 2026, a landmark gatering expected to bring together more than 1,000 young women leaders from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to discuss governance, financial inclusion, leadership and national development.
The request was made during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the organization, led by its President, Princess Mimi Peters, to the ministry in Abuja. The visit provided an opportunity for discussions on the objectives of the proposed conference and possible areas of collaboration ahead of the event scheduled to hold from August 6 to 8, 2026.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the Director of Special Duties, Sani-Yusuf Fatima, assured the group that their requests and proposals would be conveyed to the minister for consideration.
Fatima noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to the development and empowerment of the girl child, stressing that young women possess enormous potential to drive economic growth, innovation and national transformation when provided with the right opportunities and support.
She emphasized the need for deliberate interventions aimed at addressing emerging social and behavioural challenges among young people while promoting positive values, leadership development and productive civic engagement.
According to her, youth-focused conferences and initiatives that encourage education, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and civic responsibility are critical to building a more responsible, productive and globally competitive generation.
the Director of Special Duties, Sani-Yusuf Fatima
The ministry also underscored the importance of financial inclusion and economic empowerment, noting that young women must be equipped with the skills, knowledge and resources required to participate meaningfully in the nation’s economy and contribute to sustainable development.
The delegation commended the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, for the ministry’s prompt response to its request for engagement, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to youth and women development.
Princess Peters noted that the visit came barely two weeks after the organization submitted its letter seeking collaboration with the ministry, a response time she described as commendable considering the volume of requests received by government institutions.
According to her, the swift invitation reflected a leadership style that values constructive engagement and recognizes the importance of creating opportunities for young women to contribute meaningfully to national discourse and development.
She said the development had strengthened the confidence of members of the organization in the government’s willingness to listen to the concerns, aspirations and contributions of young Nigerians.
Princess Peters stated that the proposed conference aligns strongly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic empowerment, human capital development, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and youth participation in nation-building.
According to her, the conference is designed to complement ongoing government efforts by equipping young women with practical knowledge, leadership skills and access to opportunities that will enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
She explained that the conference, themed “Her Voice, Her Future: Nigeria Female Youths Shaping National Action,” was conceived in response to the limited participation of young women in economic and policy decision-making processes despite their growing population and contributions to national development.
Princess Peters noted that Nigeria has more than 60 million young women between the ages of 15 and 35, yet only about 35 per cent are financially included while less than 10 per cent participate in formal economic policy spaces.
She said the conference aims to strengthen financial literacy, encourage entrepreneurship, promote national cohesion and create direct engagement between young women and key government institutions on policies affecting their future.
Beyond economic empowerment and leadership development, she explained that the conference is also intended to address the growing social vices involving young people across the country.
According to her, participants will be equipped with the knowledge, values and advocacy skills needed to promote responsible citizenship, ethical leadership and positive behavioural change within their communities.
She noted that women and girls occupy strategic positions within families and society and can play a significant role in influencing positive attitudes among young people, including the boy child.
“We believe that empowering women and girls with the right knowledge and leadership tools will enable them to become agents of positive change in their homes, schools and communities. Through this conference, we hope to inspire a generation that will help reduce social vices such as drug abuse, cultism, cybercrime, violence and other negative behaviours affecting our youths,” she said.
Princess Peters stated that the organization is seeking collaboration with the Ministry of Finance in areas including a keynote address on financial inclusion, technical sessions on access to finance, participation of ministry experts in capacity-building programmes and the establishment of a platform for sustained engagement between young women and policymakers.
She expressed confidence that the conference would produce practical outcomes, including the training of over 1,000 delegates on financial literacy, leadership development, civic responsibility and government empowerment opportunities.
Princess Peters further expressed optimism that collaboration with the Ministry of Finance would help translate discussions from the conference into actionable programmes and policy recommendations capable of improving the economic prospects of young women and contributing to national development.
She added that the conference would provide a unique platform for interaction among policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders and young women from diverse backgrounds, fostering collaboration and generating innovative solutions to challenges affecting women and youths nationwide.
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