MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECEIVES CONYSSA DELEGATION, SEEKS STRUCTURED YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ON SECURITY, DIASPORA ISSUES

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, February 6, 2026, received in audience a delegation from the Coalition of Nigerian Youths on Security and Safety Affairs (CONYSSA), a youth-led national organisation focused on mobilising Nigerian youths for empowerment, inclusion, peacebuilding and national development.

The delegation, led by Mr. Abraham Kwaghfan, a senior national official of CONYSSA, was received on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

During the meeting, Mr. Kwaghfan presented an overview of the coalition’s mandate, structure and activities, as well as areas of proposed collaboration with the Ministry. He disclosed that CONYSSA was established in 2019 and formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2022.

According to him, the coalition was created to complement Nigeria’s national security architecture by bridging the gap between youths and security institutions through advocacy, engagement and preventive interventions.

He highlighted several ongoing and completed initiatives of the organisation, including nationwide youth security and value reorientation campaigns across the South-West, South-South and North-West geopolitical zones, as well as security summits addressing issues such as drug abuse, cybercrime, human trafficking, extremism and other social vices.

Mr. Kwaghfan also outlined youth-focused interventions aimed at mitigating extortion and rights violations involving security agencies, including mediation efforts and recovery of funds.

He noted that CONYSSA had engaged major security institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission and other relevant agencies.

The delegation further disclosed plans to extend its programmes to the North-East, South-East and North-Central zones, with a proposed North-East security summit scheduled to hold in Gombe State.

CONYSSA also emphasised its volunteer-driven structure and extensive grassroots manpower drawn from affiliated youth organisations, including paramilitary-aligned and civil society groups.

The coalition requested partnership, support and institutional endorsement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly in areas of youth engagement aligned with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, including demography and diaspora engagement.

It also sought structured engagement with Nigerian youths in the diaspora to address welfare, national image and security-related challenges.

Responding, the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Mr. Ebienfa, commended CONYSSA for its youth-centred security initiatives and civic engagement efforts. He clarified the statutory mandate of the Ministry, particularly in the areas of consular services, diaspora engagement and existing institutional frameworks for assisting Nigerians in distress abroad.

He explained that Nigerian Missions overseas are adequately equipped and responsible for providing consular services to Nigerians in their host countries, while the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission serves as a key interface for Nigerians in the diaspora requiring assistance.

He therefore advised the delegation to liaise with the Ministry whenever the need arises for appropriate guidance and coordination.

The delegation was also advised to formally submit detailed proposals for programmes intended for implementation in the North-East, including clear outlines of planned activities, to enable proper internal consideration and guidance.

The engagement underscored the growing role of organised youth groups in addressing security challenges, social reorientation and national image-building. CONYSSA’s activities were noted to broadly align with Nigeria’s foreign policy pillars on demography and diaspora engagement.

Subject to due diligence and the formal submission of proposals, structured collaboration with CONYSSA could enhance the Ministry’s outreach to Nigerian youths at home and abroad, strengthen preventive engagement and contribute positively to national security and image-building efforts.

Continued engagement was therefore recommended within the confines of the Ministry’s statutory mandate and existing institutional frameworks.