Maryam Aminu
In a significant move to foster sustainable youth development, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially approved the full professionalization of youth work in the country.
The announcement was made at the 2024 National Youth Work Conference, held at the Ministry of Youth Development’s Afolabi Hall in Abuja, where delegates celebrated the theme, “A Right to Youth Work and a Positive Future for All Young People: Celebrating Diverse Expressions of Youth Work Across the Globe.”
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Permanent Secretary Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, underscored the government’s commitment to establish a clear career path for youth workers, marking a historic moment in the nation’s youth development agenda.
According to Olawande, “The Ministry is prepared to lead this crucial process, recognizing the need for standardized ethical codes and practices due to the growing influence of unregulated youth organizations. We urge this distinguished body of professionals to collaborate in establishing distinct pathways for youth development careers.”
The initiative is poised to address challenges faced by Nigerian youth by promoting career growth, enhancing ethical standards, and expanding professional capacity for those dedicated to youth work. The professionalization will also create new opportunities for youth workers to leverage public-private partnerships, digital skills integration, and financing access to cultivate young entrepreneurial talent.
Speaking on the future of Nigeria’s youth, Olawande highlighted the Ministry’s focus on partnerships that bridge youth aspirations with economic growth.
“To foster entrepreneurship and innovation from a young age, stakeholders must collectively support a generation of skilled and resilient young Nigerians,” he noted.
“Our goal is to build a future that is inclusive, resilient, and adaptable to global challenges, from climate change to economic shifts and technological advancements.”
Reflecting on the government’s commitment to a transformative youth sector, the Minister emphasized, “In these challenges lie immense opportunities for growth and transformation. Our young people must be not only prepared to lead but to drive these opportunities forward.”
He called on youth workers to continue acting as transformative agents who offer essential platforms, mentorship, and resources, empowering young Nigerians to overcome barriers and thrive.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which has prioritized youth development as a national imperative, the Ministry is working to empower Nigeria’s youth comprising 60% of the population with skills, knowledge, and the entrepreneurial spirit to compete globally.
The “One Youth, Two Skills” vision, championed by the Ministry, reflects this commitment by equipping young Nigerians with essential, diversified skills.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, President of the Nigeria Youth Workers Association (NYWA), Mr. Ben Duntoye, applauded the government’s move and emphasized the need for professionalism within the field.
“Youth work must thrive in Nigeria as it does in developed nations,” he stated. “We are partnering with advanced countries to share best practices and gain support for developing youth work here, both financially and in other meaningful ways.”
The approval for youth work professionalization represents a landmark achievement that will elevate the standards of youth work and accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward a prosperous future led by an empowered, entrepreneurial generation.
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