By; Olanrewaju Shifau
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has reaffirmed that the 2025 National Youth Confab will kick off in the first quarter of the year as planned, as the administration seeks to strengthen the synergy between Nigerian youth and the Government, and give young people a more coordinated platform to engage with the government and present their unique ideas and solutions to youth-specific challenges
Olawande made this reaffirmation when he featured as a guest on Arise Television Prime Time program on Wednesday, January 8th, 2025 monitored by Prime News.
He stressed that the program will be taken to the grassroots level for the benefit of the informal youth who are the majority, adding that the event will witness a better outcome.
The Youth Minister reiterated his commitment to promoting youth development, which according to him has led to the establishment of Nigeria Youth Academy (NIYA), a platform for youth to learn, acquire skill and earn income from their homes as well as open them to opportunities.
Also included is The Nigeria Youth Helpdesk, an initiative aimed at encouraging a closer bond between Nigerian youths and the law enforcement authorities, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the initiative serves as a platform for encouraging managing and resolving complaints from Nigerian Youths regarding the Police and other law enforcement agencies, and also to create an avenue to recieve suggestions and feedback on all youth-focused initiatives of the Government.
Other initiatives includes The Nigeria Youth Investment Fund(NYIF), created to support young business owners with funds to upscale their business, and the Youth House Initiative to be centered in Abuja and branches in all states and Green House in all 774 LGAs, all of which have been approved by the President, to create a bonding and idea sharing platform for the youth, including those at the grassroots.
When asked on digital job creation, the minister noted that the ministry has collaborated with numerous Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Corporate Organizations which includes; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to launch DL4ALL program to train 30 million in digital literacy and to harness the jobs in our growing
economy, Presidential Initiative on CNG to deliver CNG-Powered Tricycle to 2,000 informal youth in the transportation sector and the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to train and deliver 5,000 jobs to youth in the data protection and privacy sector.
Olawande expressed confidence that by the end of two years, each youth must have been equipped with at least two skills, just as he disclosed that the ministry is ready to collaborate with state governors and commissioners to ensure that the youth feel the impact of the government
The Minister for Youth however assured the Nigerian youths of his continual effort to empower, protect and crest enabling environment for the youth of the nation to thrive.
