FG Launches Youth-Led Circular Economy Drive to Create Jobs, Tackle Climate Change

Maryam Aminu

The Federal Government has unveiled a bold new programme to put young Nigerians at the centre of climate action and job creation through the Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative (CEYEI).

Launched in Abuja by the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, the initiative developed in partnership with SAMU Technology and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN) aims to turn waste into wealth while building a greener, more inclusive economy.

“This goes beyond job creation. We are raising a new generation of Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders,” Olawande said, describing CEYEI as a landmark achievement under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

At the heart of the programme is the Waste to Wealth Project, which will provide young people with skills training, mentorship, and access to green technologies to transform discarded materials into eco-friendly products. A dedicated online platform has also been launched to connect youth with markets, investors, and innovation opportunities at home and abroad.

The Ministry also highlighted other youth-focused reforms, including:

Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA): a hub for youth protection and capacity-building.

Digital literacy training in partnership with NITDA.

YO! Health: a new mental health and wellness hub.

Youth Cred Scheme: a loan access programme with Credit Core, paving the way for a Youth Bank, MSME Incubator, and National Innovation Hub.

Ongoing NYSC reforms tailored to Gen Z and Millennials.

In his remarks, Hon. Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, stressed that with over 3 million Nigerians affected by humanitarian crises and a $36 billion global funding gap, CEYEI is a lifeline for youth-led innovations that can cut poverty and build resilience.

Permanent Secretary Olubunmi Olusanya said the initiative is about harnessing “the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian youth,” while Blessing Ekwere, speaking for RAN, hailed it as proof that young people are not just beneficiaries of development but drivers of real change.

With nationwide coverage across all 36 states and 774 LGAs, CEYEI is set to place Nigeria’s youth at the heart of the circular economy recycling, reusing, and reimagining waste into opportunity.