The Nigerian government has said it is set to engage seven million youth in skill acquisition and other empowerment programmes.
This, it said, would address unemployment challenges in the country.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, stated this during an interactive session with the Forum of Commissioners of Sports and Youth Development in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The interactive session, which had in attendance the Minister of State, Youth Development, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and the Forum of Commissioners of Sports and Youth Development, was meant to synergize and strategize ways of creating more employment opportunities for the youth through their skills and talents.
The minister said that seven million jobs would be created through youth engagement in skill acquisition and empowerment in agriculture, education, sports, entertainment and businesses.
He said this can be achieved through a government programme, the Nigerian Youth Academy, or NiYA.
Mr Olawande, who urged the Commissioner to think outside the box and create an enabling environment for youths to grow in the various sectors of the economy, advised them to take advantage of youth centres across the country to initiate greenhouse ideas that will enhance meaningful ventures among the youth.
“7 million Nigerian youth must learn a skill—at least two skills.
“At least on this platform, you must have two skills, and it is free. As a youth on this platform, every youth must find something to do. Every hand, as commissioner and minister, must be on deck just for us to go further.
“We are ready to collaborate and partner with states on youth development.
“We don’t need the money from the state government, but equipment to enhance skills amongst youths. Give them the equipment. We just need to develop our young.“
The Chairman of the delegation, who is the Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development in Plateau State, Mr. Bashir Datti, assured the minister of their support and cooperation with the Ministry towards providing more job opportunities for youths, especially in their localities.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Youth and Sports Development also advised youths across the country to be more focused and shun acts capable of truncating the peace and development of the country.
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