The Future Is Now (FiN) Movement has appointed Hon. Henry Shield as its Director-General following a national stakeholders’ meeting attended by state coordinators and representatives from across the country.

The appointment, which received unanimous endorsement from stakeholders at the Abuja meeting on Monday, marks a significant milestone in the growth of the youth-focused movement as it continues to expand its presence and programmes nationwide.

Since its official launch on October 1, 2025, during activities commemorating Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the non-partisan organisation has focused on promoting youth participation in governance, leadership and nation-building.

According to the movement, FiN was established to mobilise, mentor and equip young Nigerians for active involvement in public leadership and governance while bridging the gap between young people and decision-making institutions.

The organisation disclosed that it has recorded substantial growth within a short period, including the establishment of operational structures and state coordinators across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It also highlighted the deployment of its digital platform and the registration of more than one million young Nigerians nationwide.

Other achievements recorded by the movement include the creation of volunteer and ambassador networks, the development of a leadership and civic engagement framework, and the rollout of the FiN Campus Activation Initiative.

The campus engagement programme, which commenced at the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State, attracted more than 300 students who participated in discussions on leadership, governance and civic responsibility. The movement said it plans to expand the initiative to at least 100 tertiary institutions across the country.

FiN further revealed that it has initiated strategic engagements with international development organisations and institutions focused on youth development, governance, peacebuilding and leadership advancement.

According to the organisation, its representatives recently participated in discussions with United Nations stakeholders involved in Youth, Peace and Security programmes, exploring opportunities for collaboration in civic education, leadership development, community mobilisation and youth-focused policy advocacy.

During the stakeholders’ meeting, participants reviewed progress achieved since the movement’s inauguration and outlined priorities for its next phase of growth, including stronger state-level mobilisation, expanded campus activations, enhanced digital engagement, leadership development programmes and strategic partnerships.

A major outcome of the meeting was the unanimous ratification of Hon. Shield as Director-General, with stakeholders expressing confidence in his leadership abilities and commitment to youth empowerment.

In his new role, Shield will provide operational leadership for the movement, oversee programme implementation, coordinate state structures, strengthen stakeholder engagement and drive partnerships aimed at advancing FiN’s objectives.

Speaking after the appointment, Chairman of the movement, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, said the decision reflected the confidence stakeholders have in Shield’s capacity to lead the organisation into its next phase of development.

“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,” he said.

Also commenting, the Convener of FiN, Laolu Akande, described the movement as a growing national platform designed to provide young Nigerians with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the country’s development.

“The Future Is Now Movement was established to give young Nigerians a platform to participate actively in shaping the future of our country. In a short period, it has grown into a national platform with over one million registered youths and active structures across the federation,” he said.

The movement reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its national footprint through leadership development initiatives, civic education programmes, campus engagements, ambassador networks and strategic partnerships, while encouraging more young Nigerians to join its mission of building a more inclusive and prosperous future.