Federal Government Commits to Empowering Youth on World Youth Skills Day

Federal Government Commits to Empowering Youth on World Youth Skills Day

By Maryam Aminu

In a significant move to empower the nation’s youth, the Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to equip one million young people with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship through the National Youth Skills Programme (NYSP) within its first year of operation.

This announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, during the commemoration of the 2024 World Youth Skills Day celebration at the National Stadium in Abuja.

World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on July 15th, highlights the importance of providing young people with relevant skills for employment, fostering dialogue among key stakeholders including youth, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, employers, policymakers, and development partners.

Dr. Ibrahim emphasized the strategic importance of skill acquisition, aligning with this year’s theme, “Youth Skills for Peace and Development,” and its sub-theme, “Upskilling Youth for Peace, Skill up Youth for Development.”

She underscored the ministry’s commitment to supporting job creation and reducing unemployment.

“The National Youth Skills Programme will soon be inaugurated, targeting one million beneficiaries in its first year,” said Dr. Ibrahim.

The Minister also announced an increase in the Youth Investment Fund from N72 billion to N110 billion, enhancing the ministry’s projects aimed at empowering young Nigerians.

Urging youths to leverage this investment to improve their talents and skills, Dr. Ibrahim stressed the government’s dedication to motivating the youth to shun negative tendencies and embrace positive development pathways.

She revealed that the ministry had streamlined processes to ensure easier access to funds for young entrepreneurs.

The Minister while launching the National Sewing Championship (NSC)/Talent Hunt targeting youths from ages 12 to 22 years across Nigeria for training and empowerment, commended the initiative and expressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the NSC24.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Engr. Ayodele Olawande, also addressed the event, outlining the ministry’s plans to incorporate both formal and informal youth into their development programs.

He reiterated a strong commitment to empowering and training seven million youth within the next two years through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), with an initial test run involving 60,000 beneficiaries.

Engr. Olawande highlighted the importance of job fairs, suggesting a shift from traditional trade fairs to events focused on promoting skill acquisition.

He announced plans to collaborate with local governments to ensure each area produces and manufactures local products from indigenous raw materials.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, Mr. Adaramodu Adeyemi, praised the ministry’s initiatives, expressing readiness to support legislative measures that would enhance the lives of Nigerian youth.

Adeyemi highlighted the critical need to focus on youth development, given that young people constitute 60% of Nigeria’s population.

Guest speaker Mr. Kashim Ali, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, encouraged both young and older citizens to engage in skill acquisition, emphasizing that it is never too late to learn new skills.

The Coordinator of the 2024 Sewing Championship and Executive Director of the Ladi Memorial Foundation, Mrs. Rosemary Ojochenemi Osikoye, highlighted the foundation’s pivotal role in creating a holistic skilling ecosystem to enhance employability and foster a culture of entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.

“Over the years, Ladi Memorial Foundation has significantly expanded its reach and effectiveness. Nigeria has a lot of youthful talents within the schools, and they don’t have a platform to express themselves,” Osikoye stated.

She elaborated on the foundation’s latest initiative: “We have initiated a sewing championship competition. This competition allows everyone within Nigeria to showcase their talents.”

Commending the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Osikoye remarked, “Today, the minister demonstrates that you can actually pick a good idea and support it without really knowing anybody. That is the spirit of Nigeria and the Nigeria we need for tomorrow.”

The programme is expecting participation from over 40,000 youths across the nation. “In Kano, we are told that the population is expected to be about 1,000 or more. Even for FCT, multiply 1,000 by 36 states, it means that with the right support, we should expect about 40,000 youth participation in the NSC24,” she said.

Osikoye called on all eligible contestants to register for the Talent Hunt.

A youth Ibrahim Adejoh expressed that the event marked a significant step towards fostering youth empowerment and development in Nigeria.

Adejoh added that the government and stakeholders demonstrated a robust commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the skills necessary for their future success.

By Maryam Aminu

In a significant move to empower the nation’s youth, the Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to equip one million young people with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship through the National Youth Skills Programme (NYSP) within its first year of operation.

This announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, during the commemoration of the 2024 World Youth Skills Day celebration at the National Stadium in Abuja.

World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on July 15th, highlights the importance of providing young people with relevant skills for employment, fostering dialogue among key stakeholders including youth, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, employers, policymakers, and development partners.

Dr. Ibrahim emphasized the strategic importance of skill acquisition, aligning with this year’s theme, “Youth Skills for Peace and Development,” and its sub-theme, “Upskilling Youth for Peace, Skill up Youth for Development.”

She underscored the ministry’s commitment to supporting job creation and reducing unemployment.

“The National Youth Skills Programme will soon be inaugurated, targeting one million beneficiaries in its first year,” said Dr. Ibrahim.

The Minister also announced an increase in the Youth Investment Fund from N72 billion to N110 billion, enhancing the ministry’s projects aimed at empowering young Nigerians.

Urging youths to leverage this investment to improve their talents and skills, Dr. Ibrahim stressed the government’s dedication to motivating the youth to shun negative tendencies and embrace positive development pathways.

She revealed that the ministry had streamlined processes to ensure easier access to funds for young entrepreneurs.

The Minister while launching the National Sewing Championship (NSC)/Talent Hunt targeting youths from ages 12 to 22 years across Nigeria for training and empowerment, commended the initiative and expressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the NSC24.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Engr. Ayodele Olawande, also addressed the event, outlining the ministry’s plans to incorporate both formal and informal youth into their development programs.

He reiterated a strong commitment to empowering and training seven million youth within the next two years through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), with an initial test run involving 60,000 beneficiaries.

Engr. Olawande highlighted the importance of job fairs, suggesting a shift from traditional trade fairs to events focused on promoting skill acquisition.

He announced plans to collaborate with local governments to ensure each area produces and manufactures local products from indigenous raw materials.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth, Mr. Adaramodu Adeyemi, praised the ministry’s initiatives, expressing readiness to support legislative measures that would enhance the lives of Nigerian youth.

Adeyemi highlighted the critical need to focus on youth development, given that young people constitute 60% of Nigeria’s population.

Guest speaker Mr. Kashim Ali, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, encouraged both young and older citizens to engage in skill acquisition, emphasizing that it is never too late to learn new skills.

The Coordinator of the 2024 Sewing Championship and Executive Director of the Ladi Memorial Foundation, Mrs. Rosemary Ojochenemi Osikoye, highlighted the foundation’s pivotal role in creating a holistic skilling ecosystem to enhance employability and foster a culture of entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.

“Over the years, Ladi Memorial Foundation has significantly expanded its reach and effectiveness. Nigeria has a lot of youthful talents within the schools, and they don’t have a platform to express themselves,” Osikoye stated.

She elaborated on the foundation’s latest initiative: “We have initiated a sewing championship competition. This competition allows everyone within Nigeria to showcase their talents.”

Commending the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Osikoye remarked, “Today, the minister demonstrates that you can actually pick a good idea and support it without really knowing anybody. That is the spirit of Nigeria and the Nigeria we need for tomorrow.”

The programme is expecting participation from over 40,000 youths across the nation. “In Kano, we are told that the population is expected to be about 1,000 or more. Even for FCT, multiply 1,000 by 36 states, it means that with the right support, we should expect about 40,000 youth participation in the NSC24,” she said.

Osikoye called on all eligible contestants to register for the Talent Hunt.

A youth Ibrahim Adejoh expressed that the event marked a significant step towards fostering youth empowerment and development in Nigeria.

Adejoh added that the government and stakeholders demonstrated a robust commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the skills necessary for their future success.