The City Boy Movement (CBM) has officially opened its first National Retreat in Abuja, drawing members from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The three-day event, running from Monday, July 14 to Wednesday, July 16, 2026, aims to consolidate the movement's structure, review progress, and prepare members for intensified grassroots outreach in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Swearing-in Ceremony and Key Appointments
During the opening ceremony, members of the National Working Committee and State Directors were sworn in, pledging to uphold the movement's constitution with integrity and loyalty. The event was attended by Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the movement's Patron, Barrister Seyi Tinubu.
Minister Olawande urged members to remain united and disciplined, stating: "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." He called on participants to return to their states as ambassadors of the Renewed Hope Agenda, communicating the administration's achievements while staying responsive to citizens' concerns.
Shoga Sets Ambitious 10 Million Vote Target
Director-General Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga delivered a keynote address setting an ambitious electoral target. "Our mission is clear. Our target is 10 million votes. Our strength is our people. And our time is now," he declared.
Shoga cautioned that achieving this target would require more than digital campaigns. "10 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. He pointed to ongoing federal reforms, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, youth skills development, digital innovation, and infrastructure expansion, as evidence of the Renewed Hope Agenda's impact.
He charged all directors and members to take ownership of the movement's membership drive at ward and community level, urging: "If you believe in this movement, bring someone into this movement. Get involved. Get organised. Get to work."
Strategic Planning and Capacity Building
The retreat's remaining sessions are expected to cover strategic planning, leadership development, policy engagements, and capacity-building programmes. The event will culminate in the adoption of a roadmap for expanding CBM's presence across the federation ahead of future political engagements.
The movement's Patron, Barrister Seyi Tinubu, described the retreat as "the gathering of a movement" and emphasised it was "not a celebration of yesterday, but a preparation for tomorrow." He urged members to position themselves as "communicators, educators, mobilisers and ambassadors of hope" by engaging Nigerians with facts, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.
The City Boy Movement, which draws members from all 36 states and the FCT, is positioning itself as a key grassroots mobilisation force for President Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. With a target of 10 million votes, the movement aims to leverage its organisational structure and community engagement to deliver substantial electoral support.
