Maryam Aminu
The Federal Government has taken a bold step to expand opportunities for Nigerian youth by signing a landmark partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to promote financial innovation and inclusion.
At the MoU signing ceremony on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative is aimed at breaking barriers that have long excluded young people from the nation’s capital market.
“For too long, the capital market has been seen as a space reserved for the wealthy. Today, we are saying clearly that Nigerian youth deserve access too,” Olawande declared. “We want to empower them not just to seek jobs, but to create them to become entrepreneurs, investors, and employers of labour.”
Central to the plan is the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), a platform that will deliver financial education and practical skills to young people across the country, regardless of background or location.
The Minister emphasized that government-private sector collaboration will be key to ensuring no youth is left behind.
“Our goal is to raise a generation of financially savvy, empowered young Nigerians who will shape the future prosperity of this nation,” he said.
SEC Director-General, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, praised the initiative, commending Olawande’s youthful and action-driven approach to governance.
He pledged SEC’s full support in providing young Nigerians with access to funding, investment opportunities, and financial literacy.
“This partnership marks the beginning of a meaningful legacy,” Dr. Agama said. “Together, we will ensure sustainable socio-economic impact and long-term national prosperity.”
The collaboration between the Ministry of Youth Development and SEC is expected to unlock new pathways for entrepreneurship, innovation, and financial independence among Nigeria’s youth population.
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