By Maryam Aminu
In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has revealed that the restructured Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) will start accepting applications this month.
This initiative aims to provide young entrepreneurs with financial support for their innovative ideas.
The announcement was made during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2024 Batch B Stream I corps members at the NYSC orientation camp in Paiko, Niger State.
Dr. Ibrahim in a statement by the Director Press and Public Ralations emphasized that the NYIF would streamline the application process to facilitate young entrepreneurs in transforming their business visions into reality, thereby contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Recalling a groundbreaking initiative announced in May 2024, Dr. Ibrahim highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering at least 5,000 NYSC members with up to ten million naira each for entrepreneurial ventures upon completing their service.
She reiterated that this move is expected to boost economic growth and sustainability.
“We are also launching the National Youth Skills Programme (NYSP) this month,” Dr. Ibrahim added. “This program aims to train over one million young Nigerians across various fields such as technology and agriculture. The NYSP offers a remarkable opportunity to enhance employability and prepare for successful careers, aligning with the evolving demands of the job market.”
The Minister encouraged corps members to seize these opportunities, noting the rapid changes in the world and the importance of the skills they acquire now for their future success.
She advised them to leverage the NYIF for their business ideas and actively participate in the NYSP to develop a well-rounded skill set during their NYSC year.
In his address, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State announced that his administration would offer automatic employment to corps members in the medical and health fields who are willing to work in the state, aiming to improve healthcare delivery services.
Governor Bago also disclosed that the state government has allocated five billion naira for constructing a permanent orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps in Niger State.
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