Record 1,371 Contestants Enter FPDI 2026 Policy Challenge

About 1,371 participants have entered for the Future Pathways Development Initiative (FPDI) 2026 national policy challenge.

This is even as the 2026 edition of the FPDI flagship policy conference billed for Abuja, has been moved to Ibadan, Oyo State.

The organisation disclosed that this year’s policy challenge attracted 1,371 expressions of interest and 322 policy submissions from participants in 33 states, while its network has expanded to 67 tertiary institutions nationwide.

Speaking on the challenge, the director of FPDI, Arinola Addo Daniel said winning teams in the competition will receive prizes worth about ₦4 million, as well as paid internship opportunities, media exposure and continued mentorship through FPDI’s network of policy practitioners and governance professionals.

Beyond the competition, the conference will feature SpotOn Talks, a fireside chat, a mock parliamentary session and an expert panel discussion focusing on governance reforms and institutional effectiveness.

Founder of FPDI, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, said the initiative was established to create meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians to participate in shaping public policy.

He noted that many decisions affecting young people are often made without their direct input, stressing that the conference provides a platform for them to contribute ideas capable of driving governance reforms and national development.

The conference, scheduled for August 12 at the University of Ibadan, will bring together policymakers, governance experts, academics and young leaders to examine ways of rebuilding public trust through institutional reforms.

With the theme::”Rebuilding Trust: Institutional Reforms for Effective Governance,” the event will culminate in the grand finale of the FPDI Policy Challenge, where shortlisted teams will defend innovative policy proposals before a panel of judges drawn from government, academia and the development sector.

FPDI said the decision to relocate the conference from Abuja, which hosted the maiden edition in 2025, reflects its commitment to decentralising national policy conversations and taking governance engagement closer to young people across the country.