President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on young Nigerians to put the country first instead of personal ambition if they want to help move Nigeria forward.
Gbajabiamila made the appeal in a goodwill message to participants at the 2026 National Retreat of the City Boy Movement, with the theme, “Youth, Unity and Action.”
His message came as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) continues its investigation into the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) linked to him.
The Presidency, through the Chief of Staff and other presidential aides, has maintained that the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency and described it as non-existent, despite appearing in Nigeria’s 2026 budget.
Gbajabiamila had earlier asked security agencies to investigate the council’s alleged self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, and other collaborators over “forged” documents linked to PFIPC.
Addressing the retreat, he said Nigeria’s future depends on young people who are ready to choose service above self and sacrifice above personal comfort.
“No nation rises above the quality of its youth. Every generation’s destiny is shaped by its willingness to embrace responsibility, uphold unity, and turn vision into action. The future we seek will not arrive by chance; it will be built deliberately by men and women who choose service over self, sacrifice over comfort, and nation over narrow interest,” he said.
Gbajabiamila also said the Tinubu administration had taken on long-standing structural problems through reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange market and tax reforms.
“These bold reforms are steadily restoring economic stability, with inflation easing and renewed investor confidence in the Nigerian economy. Alongside them, deliberate investment in infrastructure, human capital, and youth empowerment — through initiatives such as expanded student loans and the drive to equip millions of young Nigerians with technical skills — is opening real opportunity for the next generation. These are the early dividends of reforms designed not for short-term applause, but for lasting national renewal,” he was quoted to have said.
He also praised the Patron and National Leader of the City Boy Movement, Barrister Seyi Tinubu, for supporting youth development.
“His commitment to nurturing a disciplined, purpose-driven generation of young leaders reflects the very best of the Renewed Hope ideal, and the strength of the City Boy Movement today owes much to his guidance and personal example.”
According to Gbajabiamila, the retreat’s theme reflects the values needed to move Nigeria forward. He said youth stands for innovation, courage and resilience, while unity turns Nigeria’s diversity into strength. He added that real progress only happens when ideas become action.
He urged members of the City Boy Movement to unite communities, encourage peaceful engagement and build confidence among young Nigerians through responsible leadership.
The retreat comes as the ICPC and the police continue investigating the alleged PFIPC scandal. Last week, President Tinubu directed the anti-graft agency to investigate the council’s activities.
The controversy grew after Adeyemi accused Gbajabiamila of receiving N400 million through a proxy to help him secure the council’s leadership and later asking for another N200 million. Gbajabiamila denied the claim, insisting he had no role in the alleged appointment.
On Wednesday, the Senate refused to begin a separate investigation into the disputed N1.3 billion allocation to the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act, choosing instead to wait for the outcome of the ICPC probe ordered by the President.
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest after he failed to appear in court to face charges of forgery and impersonation. He was later arrested by operatives of the intelligence response team in Osun State.
