Maryam Aminu
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has reiterated its commitment to empowering Nigerian youth by fostering collaboration with stakeholders to create sustainable opportunities.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this assertion during a meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Mr. Maheshwor Shrestha, a World Bank economist, at his office in Abuja.
Comrade Olawande stressed the need for collective efforts to provide an enabling environment for young Nigerians to thrive.
“Positive engagement creates a sense of belonging and trust in governance. By working together, we can build a meaningful environment where our youth can realize their full potential,” he stated.
The Minister outlined the challenges facing Nigerian youth, including a labor market absorbing 60 million youths, with an additional 5.5 million entering annually.
He highlighted the alarming statistics that show 58% of the informal workforce is comprised of youth, many of whom lack access to skills training, funding, and adequate infrastructure.
To tackle these issues, the Minister unveiled the Ministry’s ambitious plans, including Creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for 10 million youth in five years,Ensuring proficiency in at least two income-generating skills for every young Nigerian.
Others include: Expanding youth credit support funds by $50 million to promote entrepreneurship.
Developing youth-focused infrastructure to facilitate economic inclusion.
“Our focus is to develop a coordinated mechanism for youth interventions, ensuring that Nigerian youth have the tools to thrive in today’s economy,” he added.
World Bank’s Strategic Pillars for Nigerian Youth
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank, Mr. Maheshwor Shrestha unveiled the institution’s three strategic pathways for youth empowerment.
Reeling the strategic pathways he said Skills Development and Job Matching will Provide relevant skills and connect youth to suitable job opportunities.
Shrestha added that World Bank will Facilitate Migration Opportunities to relieve domestic job market pressures.
He noted that part of the strategic pathways is Fallback Employment and Safety Nets: Offering public works programs that provide income while linking participants to further skill-building and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Mr. Shrestha lauded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as an unparalleled platform for youth engagement, describing it as a cornerstone for transformative youth programs.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to building on its existing collaboration with the World Bank.
“We are committed to creating robust opportunities for our youth, ensuring that they not only survive but thrive,” she said.
Both parties expressed optimism about the potential of their partnership to transform the lives of millions of Nigerian youth.
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