Nigeria Government through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership Nigeria Chapter, to implement the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative aimed at unlocking the innovative potential of Nigerian youths and supporting them to become entrepreneurs, innovators, and national development drivers.
The Ministry also entered into a separate MoU with Mind the Gap Television to produce and promote a youth-focused YouTube television programme titled “The Youths Are Here,” designed to provide a digital platform for showcasing youth voices, ideas, and development initiatives across the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Keshinro, who represented the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the initiatives as strategic platforms designed to harness the creativity and energy of Nigerian youths while connecting them with opportunities for enterprise development and national growth.
Keshinro noted that Nigeria is blessed with one of the largest youth populations in the world, describing the demographic advantage as a historic opportunity for national transformation.
“Across our universities, polytechnics, research institutions, and communities, young Nigerians are generating brilliant ideas, conducting meaningful research, and developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Unfortunately, many of these ideas remain uncommercialized, underfunded, or disconnected from the pathways that transform innovation into enterprise and development,” she said.
According to her, the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative was conceived to address this gap by creating a national platform that bridges research and enterprise.
She explained that the programme will enable youths across the country, both students and non-students, to present their ideas, develop prototypes, receive mentorship, and connect with investors and industry partners.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that the initiative will focus on priority sectors critical to Nigeria’s development, including agriculture and food security, renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare innovation, smart infrastructure, and the creative economy.
She described the partnership with CIML as both timely and strategic, noting that the organisation brings valuable expertise, institutional credibility, and leadership development experience that will strengthen the implementation of the initiative.
Keshinro added that beyond the competition aspect of the programme, the initiative is designed to create lasting impact by encouraging the emergence of youth-led startups, promoting the commercialization of research, strengthening innovation ecosystems within educational institutions, and attracting private sector investment as well as international collaboration.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding today signals the beginning of a transformative journey. It demonstrates our collective resolve to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps toward empowering Nigerian youth to realize their full potential,” she added.
Pioneering Programme
In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of CIML Nigeria, Dr. Steve Longe, described the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative as a pioneering programme designed to bring together Nigerian youths from diverse backgrounds, educational levels, and regions under a single national platform that promotes innovation, enterprise development, and collaborative growth.
He noted that the initiative will provide inclusive opportunities for young Nigerians in both the formal and non-formal education sectors to contribute to national development through creativity, knowledge development, and entrepreneurship.
Also speaking, the representative of Mind the Gap Community and Youth Development Foundation, Mr. Tayo Olosunde, emphasized the importance of effective digital communication in ensuring that government development initiatives reach young Nigerians across the country.
Olosunde said the YouTube programme “The Youths Are Here” will serve as a platform to amplify youth voices, highlight innovative ideas, and showcase development initiatives led by young Nigerians.
The initiatives are expected to serve as catalysts for youth-driven innovation, entrepreneurship, and national engagement while promoting sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.