Maryam Aminu
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has reported a remarkable response to the newly relaunched and restructured Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), which has received over 80,000 applications within its first 72 hours.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, during a town hall meeting with North Central Youth Stakeholders in Abuja.
Dr. Ibrahim expressed that the overwhelming response highlights the strong enthusiasm among Nigerian youth to access funding that supports their entrepreneurial and innovative projects.
She assured that the Ministry is dedicated to a fair and transparent selection process to identify the most deserving and impactful initiatives.
“The NYIF will create focused financing and funding mechanisms for youth-enabled businesses and innovations to keep our youth gainfully engaged in productive ventures,” Dr. Ibrahim stated.
“To maximize impact, the program has been restructured to focus on existing high-potential businesses and create strategic clusters that will generate up to two million direct and indirect jobs in three years.”
The Minister emphasized the importance placed by the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts to achieve these goals.
She called on all stakeholders including government entities, the private sector, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the media to mobilize youth across all social strata to benefit from the NYIF.
“I am inviting you to chart the course of this initiative, as you grab the opportunity to scale up your businesses for national prosperity,” Dr. Ibrahim said.
“To ensure inclusivity, I am taking this message to every part of the country, especially the grassroots. Join hands with me to actualize this mission as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Nigerian youth.”
The NYIF is a strategic initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at harnessing the potential of Nigerian youth for economic growth and innovation, focusing on the development and empowerment of young entrepreneurs nationwide.
The Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (North Central), Honourable Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, commended the President for his steadfast commitment to enhancing the well-being of Nigerian youth.
He noted significant progress in socio-economic, human, and infrastructural development within a short timeframe and urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, expressing optimism that the country will soon overcome current challenges.
The Stakeholders at the meeting stressed the pivotal role of Nigerian youth in supporting the policies of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for successful implementation during this period of economic recovery.
They unanimously distanced themselves from the planned nationwide protest, deeming it unnecessary at this time.
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