Maryam Aminu
In a strategic move to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has announced a comprehensive collaboration with the Ministry of Interior.
This initiative, unveiled during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, aims to leverage shared resources and expertise to create sustainable employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
Dr. Ibrahim highlighted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has recently approved an expansion of the Youth Investment Fund from N75 billion to N110 billion. This increase is intended to support the Presidential Initiatives on Youth Enterprise Clusters, which will focus on key sectors such as agriculture, digital economy, blue economy, creative economy, extractive economy (mining), and the oil and gas sector.
“Our goal is to establish economic clusters driven by young people,” Dr. Ibrahim said. “This approach is part of our concerted efforts towards achieving a $3 trillion economy, as envisioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. By integrating young people into these vital sectors, we aim to significantly contribute to the nation’s economic growth.”
Dr. Ibrahim proposed a partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to safeguard these economic clusters, which are viewed as pivotal assets for national prosperity. She emphasized the need for specialized recruitment and training to monitor and protect these clusters, and called for the NSCDC’s expertise in profiling and assessing the young individuals involved.
“We believe the NSCDC’s recommendations will be crucial in fortifying these assets, which have the potential to greatly enhance our economy,” she added. “
“Furthermore, we plan to establish the Young Marshal Volunteers within agencies under the Ministry of Interior to provide mentorship and instill values of service among young people, addressing a critical gap in societal development.”
Hon. Tunji-Ojo affirmed the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to this collaboration, highlighting ongoing efforts to restructure correctional centers to meet international standards. These measures include facility upgrades and improved operational processes to alleviate overcrowding and enhance the rehabilitation environment.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards addressing youth unemployment in Nigeria by fostering inter-ministerial cooperation and harnessing the potential of young Nigerians to drive economic growth and innovation.
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