ABUJA – In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee for the 2025 Youth Entrepreneurial and Innovation Alliance (YEIA) Boot Camp, a strategic initiative organized in partnership with the Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the Ministry of Youth Development Headquarters in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, said the Boot Camp aims to nurture creativity, build entrepreneurial capacity, and foster collaboration among youth innovators from Nigeria and Bangladesh.
Comrade Olawande emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, attracting technological investments, and empowering Nigerian youth through targeted training, industrial exposure, and cultural exchange.
“The primary goals of the Boot Camp are to facilitate high-level engagements between public and private sector stakeholders, mobilize investment, and equip our youth with relevant skills and global exposure,” the Minister noted.
He urged members of the newly formed committee—drawn from key ministries and strategic sectors—to ensure Nigeria’s participation is both impactful and nationally inclusive. He charged them to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, creativity, and inter-agency collaboration.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, the Acting Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr. Mike Ugwuogu, highlighted the unique nature of the 2025 edition, to be hosted in Bangladesh, as an opportunity for Nigerian youth to showcase innovation and engage global partners.
“This Boot Camp will bring together innovators, startup founders, and changemakers from across the globe,” Ugwuogu added.
Also speaking, Mr. Bob Achanya, President of the Nigeria-Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum, described the YEIA Boot Camp as a strategic platform to connect youth with policymakers and private sector leaders. He reiterated the commitment to empowering over 10 million young Africans through mentorship, training, and entrepreneurship.
The Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to creating an enabling environment for youth development and positioning Nigerian youth as global leaders in innovation and enterprise.
