The City Boy Movement (CBM) had commenced its maiden three-day National Retreat in Abuja, where it inaugurated members of its National Working Committee (NWC) and unveiled an ambitious plan to mobilise 10 million votes in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The retreat, which runs from July 13 to July 15, 2026, has brought together members of the movement’s Governing Board, National Working Committee, National Directors, State Directors and other stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the organisers, the retreat is designed to strengthen the movement’s organisational structure, assess its progress and prepare members for intensified grassroots mobilisation in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
A major highlight of the opening ceremony was the swearing-in of members of the National Working Committee and State Directors, who took an oath of office, pledging to uphold the constitution, ideals and objectives of the City Boy Movement with integrity, loyalty and dedication.
The event also featured goodwill messages from the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, the movement’s Patron, Barrister Seyi Tinubu, and its Director-General, Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga.
Addressing participants, Olawande urged members to remain united, disciplined and committed to the movement’s objectives, stressing the need for active political participation and grassroots engagement.
He said, “Politics is not a game for those who sit on the sidelines. This is the time to organise, mobilise and take our message to every street, every community and every home.”
The minister encouraged participants to return to their various states as ambassadors of the Renewed Hope Agenda by communicating the achievements of President Tinubu’s administration while remaining responsive to the aspirations of Nigerians.
In his welcome address, Seyi Tinubu described the retreat as a defining moment for the movement, saying it represented “the gathering of a movement” and “not a celebration of yesterday, but a preparation for tomorrow.”
He said the City Boy Movement had grown into a formidable national platform dedicated to youth participation, democratic engagement and public service, urging members to become effective communicators, educators, mobilisers and ambassadors of hope.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of the movement, Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, charged members to build a disciplined, united and purpose-driven organisation capable of sustaining its vision.
Shoga highlighted several initiatives of the Tinubu administration, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), youth skills development programmes, digital innovation, infrastructure expansion and economic reforms, describing them as practical demonstrations of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the movement must serve as a bridge between government and the people by providing accurate information and promoting greater public engagement.
“The City Boy Movement must become the bridge between the message and the people. We must inform, engage and empower Nigerians with clarity, facts and conviction,” he said.
Shoga also unveiled the movement’s mobilisation target ahead of future political engagements, declaring that its mission was to secure 10 million votes in support of President Tinubu.
“Our mission is clear. Our target is 10 million votes. Our strength is our people. And our time is now,” he stated.
He emphasised that the target could only be achieved through sustained grassroots mobilisation rather than online campaigns alone.
“Ten million votes will not come from slogans or social media. They will come from real people, real structures, real engagement and real work at the grassroots,” he said.
The Director-General further urged National Directors, State Directors and members of the movement to take ownership of its membership drive by expanding its presence in wards and communities across the country.
“If you believe in this movement, bring someone into this movement. Get involved. Get organised. Get to work,” he charged, adding that history would judge members by their commitment to service and mobilisation.
The three-day retreat is expected to feature strategic planning sessions, leadership development programmes, policy engagements and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening the movement’s organisational effectiveness nationwide.
Participants are also expected to adopt a roadmap for expanding the movement’s grassroots structures, increasing membership across the federation and reinforcing support for the implementation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of future political engagements.
