Future Is Now Appoints Henry Shield as Director‑General

*Unveils plans to activate 100 university campuses nationwide

The Future Is Now (FiN) Movement has named Hon. Henry Shield its Director‑General after a national stakeholders’ meeting that gathered State Coordinators from across the country. The appointment, one of the main outcomes of the Abuja meeting held on Monday, was approved unanimously and represents another milestone in the movement’s growth.

Since its formal launch on October 1, 2025, during celebrations of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, FiN has been building a nationwide structure to encourage youth participation in governance, leadership and nation‑building. The movement was created to mobilise, mentor and equip young Nigerians for active roles in public life and to bridge the gap between young people and decision‑making institutions.

FiN reports significant progress since its inception, including the establishment of governance structures and state coordinators in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the rollout of its digital platform, and the registration of more than one million young Nigerians. Other achievements highlighted by the movement include the creation of volunteer and ambassador networks across the country, the development of a leadership and civic engagement framework, and the launch of the FiN Campus Activation Initiative.

The campus engagement programme began at the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State, where over 300 students took part in leadership and governance discussions. FiN also announced plans to activate at least 100 university campuses nationwide to build a pipeline of informed, leadership‑ready young Nigerians.

FiN has started strategic engagements with international development partners and institutions that focus on youth participation, governance, peacebuilding and leadership development. Representatives recently met with United Nations stakeholders involved in Youth, Peace and Security programming and other youth development initiatives to explore collaboration opportunities in leadership development, civic education, youth engagement, community mobilisation and youth‑centred policy advocacy.

During the stakeholders’ meeting, participants reviewed the movement’s progress since launch and discussed priorities for the next phase, including state‑level mobilisation, campus activations, digital engagement, leadership development programmes and partnership opportunities. A key outcome was the unanimous ratification of Hon. Shield as Director‑General. Stakeholders expressed confidence in his leadership, commitment to youth development and ability to coordinate the movement’s expanding national structures and programmes. As Director‑General, Shield will provide operational leadership, oversee programme implementation, strengthen stakeholder engagement, coordinate state structures and drive strategic partnerships to advance FiN’s objectives.

Speaking on the meeting’s outcome, Chairman Rep Abdussamad Dasuki said: “The unanimous ratification of Hon. Henry Shield as Director‑General reflects our collective confidence in his ability to lead the next phase of growth and institutional development. Together, we remain committed to building a movement that empowers young Nigerians, strengthens democratic participation, and creates pathways for responsible leadership and national transformation.”

Convener Laolu Akande, while praising Shield’s appointment, noted: “The Future Is Now Movement was established to provide young Nigerians with a platform to participate meaningfully in shaping the future of our country. In a short period, the movement has grown into a national platform with over one million registered youths and active structures across the federation.” The movement will continue to expand its national footprint through campus activations, leadership development programmes, ambassador networks, civic education initiatives and strategic partnerships. FiN also encourages young Nigerians to join the movement and help build a more inclusive, representative and prosperous future.