Youth Ministry Partners with Flutterwave to Boost Empowerment, Mentorship

Maryam Aminu

In a significant move to advance youth empowerment in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flutterwave, a leading financial technology company. The partnership aims to enhance mentorship, digital skills training, and access to start-up funding for young Nigerians.

The MoU signing ceremony, presided over by the Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, was attended by key government officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya. The initiative will introduce strategic programs to equip youth with essential skills and financial support, reinforcing the government’s commitment to job creation and economic development.

A key highlight of the collaboration is Flutterwave’s role in streamlining stipend disbursements for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, ensuring a faster and more efficient payment system. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his administration’s eight priority pillars, which focus on economic growth, innovation, and youth empowerment.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Legal Services at the Ministry, Mr. Ernest Ezebilo, emphasized the partnership’s significance in providing young Nigerians with the tools to succeed in an increasingly digital economy.

Flutterwave’s Co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to leveraging technology for sustainable youth empowerment.

He noted that the partnership would create a robust support system for young entrepreneurs and job seekers.

Minister Olawande commended Flutterwave’s role in youth-focused initiatives, describing the collaboration as a critical step toward realizing President Tinubu’s vision for economic transformation.

He highlighted the involvement of key agencies under the Ministry, including the NYSC and the Citizenship & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), in executing these programs.

“This partnership contributes directly to the President’s eight priority pillars by:

Expanding access to training, mentorship, and funding for young entrepreneurs,

Supporting youth-led businesses to foster innovation and industrialization,

Strengthening technical and leadership training programs,

Enhancing access to capital for start-ups,

Leveraging digital innovation to create sustainable employment opportunities,

Promoting civic engagement through NYSC and CLTC initiatives, and

Demonstrating the impact of public-private sector collaboration in national development,” Olawande stated.

The Honourable Minister expressed confidence that this partnership would significantly enhance the Ministry’s mission to empower Nigerian youth, positioning them as key drivers of the nation’s economic growth.