FG Reviews Youth-Focused Priorities at Mid-Term Retreat, Unveils New Investment Window for Women and Youth with Disabilities

Maryam Aminu

The Federal Government has pledged to deepen its investment in young Nigerians by prioritising women and youth with disabilities under the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), as part of renewed efforts to drive inclusive development.

Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made the announcement in Abuja during the Presidential Priorities and Deliverables – 2025 Mid-Term Review Retreat, where he presented the Ministry’s performance scorecard.

According to the Minister, the Ministry exceeded several of its second-quarter targets, including training 14,509 youth in digital skills (against a 10,000 target), engaging 97,212 in mentorship and career development (target: 80,000), and training 5,023 in crime reduction and peace-building (target: 2,500).

Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, delivering his address at the Presidential Priorities and Deliverables Retreat in Abuja.

He also noted that more than 250,000 youths have enrolled in the Nigerian Youth Academy, while 5,700 HelpDesk cases were processed with 3,407 resolved. Additionally, ₦31.6 million was generated from Youth Centres, almost triple the ₦11 million target.

Olawande said the dedicated NYIF window will involve partnerships with women’s groups, disability organisations, and the private sector, backed by clear performance indicators to ensure impact.

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gutier Migot, commended the Ministry’s leadership, recalling past collaborations such as the 2021 National Youth Conference and the 2024 CSO Stakeholders’ Forum.

He highlighted ongoing EU-backed programmes, including the D SAFE Project with UNFPA, the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme, Digital Transformation Centres, and the EU Agricultural Value Chain Facility.

Declaring the retreat open, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described the event as a moment for reflection and renewed commitment, noting that the Ministry is prioritising stronger coordination, capacity-building, and sustainable structures.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, delivering the welcome address at the Presidential Priorities and Deliverables Retreat in Abuja.

Goodwill messages also came from the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, who highlighted NYSC’s digital training of 56,013 corps members and entrepreneurial support to over 1,100 young Nigerians since 2023. Similarly, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Ms. Rinsola Abiola, reaffirmed her agency’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that “Nigeria’s future depends on nurturing responsible, patriotic, and ethical youth.”