The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has said the City Boy Movement was created to bridge the gap between leadership and young Nigerians, while encouraging greater youth participation in governance and national development.
Olawande made the statement on Friday in Benin City during a South-South leadership tour organised by the movement. The tour is part of a wider national outreach aimed at engaging young people across different regions of the country.
The delegation was led by the Grand Patron of the movement, Seyi Tinubu, alongside key officials including the Director-General of the group, Francis Oluwatosin Shola.
The City Boy Movement is a youth-focused political advocacy group that supports the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and promotes the government’s Renewed Hope agenda. The group focuses on grassroots mobilisation, youth empowerment, and public engagement on government policies.
Speaking at the event, Olawande said young Nigerians must be more strategically positioned in governance and national decision-making processes. He explained that initiatives like the South-South tour are designed to inspire and mobilise young people to take a more active role in shaping the country’s future.
According to him, the South-South tour, which began in Edo State, is expected to serve as a rallying point for youth engagement across the region.
“The City Boy Movement is designed to bridge the gap between leadership and young Nigerians. The South-South tour, which is starting in Edo State, serves as a rallying point to mobilise, inspire, and awaken young people across the region,” Olawande said.
The tour comes at a time when youth participation in politics and governance has become a major topic in Nigeria. With a large percentage of the population made up of young people, there have been increasing calls for stronger representation in leadership positions and decision-making processes.
Over the years, various youth groups and advocacy platforms have emerged to promote political awareness and engagement among young Nigerians. Some of these groups also focus on education, entrepreneurship, and community development.
In Edo State, the visiting delegation was warmly received by the state government. Governor Monday Okpebholo used the occasion to highlight his administration’s support for youth-focused political engagement and national development efforts.
The governor also used the event to reaffirm his support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition, describing the City Boy Movement as a well-organised structure driven by leadership and vision.
Welcoming the delegation, Okpebholo praised the decision to begin the South-South tour in Edo State, describing it as a recognition of the state’s growing importance in national political activities.
“You have not made a mistake coming to the South-South and choosing to come first to Edo State. I am happy to receive you,” the governor said.
He added that the structure and organisation of the movement gave him confidence in the future of Nigeria’s youth and their role in governance.
“What I see here is a movement that is coordinated, organised, and driven by leadership. That alone gives me confidence that Nigeria’s future is in safe hands,” he said.
The governor noted that the emergence of structured youth movements like the City Boy Movement signals a shift toward more intentional and impactful participation of young people in governance and politics.
He also commended President Tinubu for taking bold policy decisions, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he described as a necessary step that previous administrations were unable to implement.
“What others could not do, Asiwaju has done. Without chaos, he took that bold decision, and today the country is already positioning itself for greater economic stability and growth,” Okpebholo added.
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 remains one of the most significant policy changes by the current administration. While it has led to higher fuel prices and increased cost of living, the government has maintained that the decision was necessary to reduce wasteful spending and redirect funds toward infrastructure and social development.
Supporters of the policy argue that the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term hardship, while critics say more support is needed for vulnerable citizens affected by rising costs.
The City Boy Movement has in recent months expanded its activities across Nigeria, organising campus visits, youth engagement programmes, food distribution drives, and awareness campaigns on government policies.
Its leadership says the goal is to ensure that young people are not left out of national conversations, especially in areas affecting their future such as education, employment, and economic development.
The South-South tour is expected to continue to other states in the region, where the group will engage youths, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders.
As political activities increase ahead of future elections, youth-focused organisations like the City Boy Movement are expected to play a growing role in shaping public opinion and mobilising support.