Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande has reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to empowering young people through innovative programmes, inclusive policies, and strategic partnerships.
Olawande gave the assurance in Abuja at the Retreat on Presidential Priorities and Deliverables – 2025 Mid-Term Review, where he presented the Ministry’s performance report.
According to the Minister, “the Ministry not only met but also exceeded its second-quarter targets. A total of 14,509 youths were trained in digital skills against a target of 10,000, while 97,212 participated in mentorship and career development programmes, surpassing the target of 80,000. Similarly, 5,023 youths received training in crime reduction and peace-building, more than double the target of 2,500. Over 250,000 enrolled in the Nigerian Youth Academy, 5,700 HelpDesk cases were processed with 3,407 resolved, and ₦31.6 million was generated from Youth Centres, against the target of ₦11 million.”
He further announced that a dedicated window of the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) will target women and youth with disabilities, alongside new partnerships with women’s groups, disability organisations, and the private sector, supported by clear performance indicators.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gutier Migot, reaffirmed the European Union’s strong partnership with the Ministry, praising its leadership and past collaborations, including the 2021 National Youth Conference and the 2024 CSO Stakeholders’ Forum, which shaped the new National Youth Action Plan.
He highlighted ongoing EU-backed initiatives such as the D SAFE Project (with UNFPA), the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme, Digital Transformation Centres, and the EU Agricultural Value Chain Facility, while commending the resilience of Nigerian youth.
Declaring the retreat open, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described it as a strategic moment for reflection and renewed commitment.
He noted the Ministry’s focus on strengthening coordination, enhancing performance management, building staff capacity, and creating flexible, sustainable structures.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, commended the Minister’s vision and highlighted NYSC’s contributions: 56,013 corps members trained in digital skills (including 2,920 women in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre) and 385,461 engaged in SAED since June 2023, with 1,118 supported to establish businesses.
He reaffirmed NYSC’s commitment to partnerships that advance youth empowerment and national development.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Ms. Rinsola Abiola, described the retreat as a timely opportunity to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abiola stressed that Nigeria’s future depends on nurturing responsible, patriotic, and ethical youth.
She reaffirmed CLTC’s commitment to collaboration and urged participants to contribute innovative ideas that will shape youth policy and advance the vision of “Build the Youth, Build the Nation.”
PIAK